Free Library Association,
A fine of two cents per clay for keeping a
book beyond tlie time specified; if a book is
injured or lost Hie borrower will be held re¬
sponsible; neither card nor book can be loaned
to any one out of the household of the bor¬
rower; only one volume can be taken by anv
person at ihe same time; no book can be
transferred except at the Library; no person
can take a book from the Library who is ac¬
countable for a book not duly retur ■ d or an
unpaid tine, or a fee of membership
All books to be returned in the ’
March at the call of the Librarian, o
50 cents.
UNIVERSITY
OF
CENTRAL FLORIDA
LIBRARIES
SPECIAL COLLECTIONS
392343
AMERICAN PIONEERS AND PATRIOTS
By JOHN S. C. ABBOTT.
m
NEW YORK:
DODD, MEAD & COMPANY
Publishers.
*
*
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1873, hy
DODD & MEAD.
in the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington.
PREFACE.
J
I •
Mr. Theodore Irving, in his valuable history of the
“Conquest of Florida, ” speaking of the astonishing
achievements of the Spanish Cavaliers, in the dawn of the
sixteenth century says:
“ Of all tlie enterprises undertaken in this spirit of
daring adventure, none has surpassed, for hardihood and
variety of incident, that of the renowned Hernando de
Soto, and his band of cavaliers. It was poetry put in ac¬
tion. It was the knight-errantry of the old world carried
into the depths of the American wilderness. Indeed the
personal adventures, the feats of individual prowess, the
picturesque description of steel-clad cavaliers, with lance
*
and helm and prancing steed, glittering through the
wildernesses of Florida, Georgia, Alabama, and the prairies
of the Far West, would seem to us mere fictions of ro¬
mance, did they not come to us recorded in matter of fact
narratives of contemporaries, and corroborated by mi nute
and daily memoranda of eye-witnesses.”
These are the wild and wondrous adventures which I
wish here to record. I have spared no pains in obtaining
the most accurate information which the records of those
Iv PREFACE.
. L
days have transmitted to us. It is as wrong to traduce
the dead as the living. If one should be careful not to
write a line which dying he would wish to blot, he should
also endeavor to write of the departed in so candid and
*» §
paternal a spirit, while severely just to the truth of history,
as to be safe from reproach. One who is aiding to form
public opinion respecting another, who has left the world,
should remember that he may yet meet the departed in the
spirit land. And he may perhaps be greeted with the
words, “Your condemnation was too severe. You did not
make due allowance for the times in which I lived. You
have held up my name to unmerited reproach.”
»
Careful investigation has revealed De Soto to me as by
no means so bad a man as I had supposed him to have
been. And I think that the candid reader will admit that
*
there was much, in his heroic but melancholy career, which
calls for charitable construction and sympathy.
The authorities upon which I have mainly relied for
my statements, are given in the body of the work. There
is no country on the globe, whose early history is so full
of interest and instruction as our own. The writer feels
grateful to the press, in general, for the kindly spirit in
%
which it has spoken of the attempt, in this series, to inter-
*
est the popular reader in those remarkable incidents which
have, led to the establishment of this majestic republic.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I.
r
n
Childhood and Youth .
'Birthplace of Ferdinand De Soto.—Spanish Colony at Darien.—
Don Pedro de Avila, Governor of Darien.—Vasco Nunez.—
Famine.—Love in the Spanish Castle.—Character of Isa¬
bella. — Embarrassment of De Soto. — Isabella's Parting
Counsel. * . . , * 9
CHAPTER II.
The Spanish Colony\
Character of De Soto.—Cruel Command of Don Pedro.—Inci¬
dent. The Duel.— Uracca.—Consternation at Darien.—
Expedition Organized.—Uracca's Reception of Espinosa
and his Troops.—The Spaniards Retreat.—De Soto Indig¬
nant.*—Espinosa's Cruelty, and Deposition from Command. 31
j
CHAPTER III. ^
Life at Darien.
Reinforcements from Spain.—Aid sent to Borrica.—Line of De T
fense Chosen by the Natives.—Religion of the Buccaneers.—
The Battle and the Rout.—Strategy of Uracca.—Cruelty of
Don Pedro.—The Retreat.—Character of Uracca.—Embar¬
rassment of Don Pedro.—Warning of M. Codro.—Expedi¬
tion of Pizarro.—Mission of M. Codro.—Letter of De Soto
to Isabella. . . * .37 i
‘ : :
•J
• •
• * 7
:«
vi
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER IV.
Demoniac Reign .
PAGB
Giles Gonzales.—Unsuccessful Contest of De Soto with Gon¬
zales.—Bold Reply of De Soto to the Governor.—Cruelty of
Don Pedro to M. Codro.—Assassination of Cordova.—New
Expedition of Discovery. — Revenge upon Valenzuela.—
Reign of Don Pedro at Nicaragua.—Unwise Decision of De
Soto - • • • . . .55
*
f
CHAPTER V.
The Invasion of Peru.
The Kingdom of Peru.—Its Metropolis.—The Desperate Condi¬
tion of Pizarro.—Arrival of De Soto.—Character of the
Spaniards.—Exploring Tour of De Soto.—The Colony at
San Miguel.—The General Advance.—Second Exploration
of De Soto.—Infamous Conduct of the Pizarros. .
CPIAPTER VI.
The Atrocities of Pizarro.
Fears of Pizarro.—Honorable Conduct of the Inca.—The March*
to Caxamarca.—Hospitable Reception.—Perfidious Attack
upon the Inca.—His Capture and Imprisonment.— The
Honor of De Soto.—The Offered Ransom.—Treachery and
Extortion of Pizarro. .
••if
• * *
CHAPTER VII.
The Extcution of the Inca, and Embarrassments of
Ee Soto.
Pledges of Pizarro.—His Perfidy.—False Mission of De Soto.—
Execution of the Inca.—His Fortitude.—Indignation of De
Soto.—Great Embarrassments.—Extenuating Considerations.
-Arrival of Almagro.—March Towards the Capital. .
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER VIII.
De Soto Returns to Spain.
FAG*
Dreadful Fate of Chalcukima.—His Fortitude.—Ignominy of Pi-
zarro.—De Soto's Advance upon Cuzco.—The Peruvian High¬
way.—Battle in the Defile.—De Soto takes the Responsi¬
bility .-Rapture of the Capital and its Conflagration.—De
Soto's Rfelurn to Spain.—His Reception there.—Preparations
for the Conquest of Florida. . ♦ • . ° •
126
CHAPTER IX.
The Landing in Florida .
d
The Departure from Spain.—Arrival in Cuba.—Leonora and To-
bar,—Isabella Invested with the Regency.—Sad Life of Isa¬
bella.—Sailing of the Expedition.—The Landing at Tampa
Bay.—Outrages of Narvaez.—Noble Spirit of Ucita.—Un¬
successful Enterprises.—Disgrace and Return of Porcallo, . 144
CHAPTER X.
The March to Ochile .
The March Commenced.—The Swamps of Florida.—Passage of
the Morass.—Heroism of Silvestre.—Message to Acuera,—
His Heroic Reply.—Fierce Hostility of the Indians.—Enter
the Town of Ocali.—Strange Incident.—Death of the Blood¬
hound.—Historical Discrepancies.—Romantic Entrance to
Ochile, « . . ♦ . * . 163
CHAPTER XL
f
The Conspiracy and its Consequences .
The Three Brother Chieftains.—Reply of Vitachuco to his Bro¬
thers.—Feigned Friendship for the Spaniards.—The Conspir-
*
acy.—Its Consummation and Results.—Clemency of De Soto.
— The Second Conspiracy.—Slaughter of the Indians.—
_ 1 *
March of the Spaniards for Osachile.—Battle in the Morass. 180
CONTENTS
VI11
CHAPTER XII.
Winter Quarters.
J'AUi
Incidents of the March.—Passage of the River.—Entering Anha-
yea.—Exploring Expeditions.—De Soto’s desire for Peace.—
Capture of Capifi.—His Escape.—Embarrassments of De
Soto.—Letter of Isabella.—Exploration of the Coast.—Dis-
■
covery of the Bay of Pensacola.—Testimony Respecting Cofa-
chiqui.—The March Resumed. . . . .199
CHAPTER XIII.
Lost in the Wilderness.
I *
Incidents at Achise.—Arrival at Cofa.—Friendly Reception by
Cofaqui. — The Armed Retinue.—Commission of Patofa.—
Splendors of the March.—Lost in the Wilderness.—Peril of
the Army.—Friendly Relations.—The Escape from the Wil¬
derness.—They Reach the Frontiers of Cofachiqui.—Dismis¬
sal of Patofa.—Wonderful Reception by the Princess of Cofa¬
chiqui. . . . . . . . .220
CHAPTER XIV.
The Indian Princess .
Crossing the River—Hospitable Reception.—Attempts to visit
the Queen Mother.—Suicide of the Prince.—Futile search for
Gold,—The Discovery of Pearls.—The Pearl Fishery.—The
Princess a Captive.—Held in Silken Chains.—Her Escape.
—Location of Cutifachiqui.—The March Resumed. . # 240
CHAPTER XV.
The Dreadful Battle of Mofrila.
The Army in Alabama.—Barbaric Pageant.—The Chief of Tusca¬
loosa.—Native Dignity.—Suspected Treachery of the Chief.
—Mobila, its Location and Importance.—Cunning of the
Chief.—The Spaniards Attacked.—Incidents of the Battle.
—Disastrous Results. . . .
CON TENTS.
e
IX
CHAPTER XVI.
Days of Darkness.
JPAflfl
The Melancholy Encampment.—The Fleet at Penslcola.—Singu¬
lar Resolve of De Soto.—Hostility of the Natives.—Beautiful
Scenery.—Winter Quarters on the Yazoo.—Feigned Friend¬
ship of the Cacique.—'Trickery of Juan Ortiz.—The Terrible
Battle of Chickasaw.—Dreadful Loss of the Spaniards. . 276
CHAPTER XVII.
The Discovery of the Mississippi.
The Fortress of Hostile Indians—Its Capture.—The Disastrous
Conflict.—The Advance of the Army.—Discovery of the
Mississippi River.—Preparations for Crossing.—Extraordi¬
nary Pageants.—Unjustifiable Attack.—The passage of the
River.—Friendly Reception by Casquin.—Extraordinary Re¬
ligious Festival. . . . . .296
CHAPTER XVIII.
*
Vagrant IVandfrings.
Trickery of Casquin.—The March to Capaha.—The Battle and
its Results.—Friendly Relations with Capaha.—The Return
Journey. — The March Southward. — Salt Springs. — The
Savages of Tulu.—Their Ferocity.—Anecdote.—Despond¬
ency of De Soto. ... .
CHAPTER XIX.
*
Death of De Soto.
Ascent of the Mississippi.—Revenge of Guachoya.—Sickness of
De Soto.—Affecting Leave-taking.—His Death and Burial.
The March for Mexico.—Return to the Mississippi.—Descent
of the River.—Dispersion of the Expedition.—Death of Isa¬
bella.
334
CHAPTER I.
Childhood and Youth.
j
Birthplace of Ferdinand De Soto.—Spanish Colony at Darien.—Don
• Pedro de Avila, Governor of Darien.—Vasco Nunez.—Famine.
—Love in the Spanish Castle.—Character of Isabella.—Embar¬
rassment of De Soto.—Isabella’s Parting Counsel.
In the interior of Spain, about one hundred and
thirty miles southwest of Madrid, there is the small
walled town of Xeres. It is remote from all great
routes of travel, and contains about nine thousand
inhabitants, living very frugally, and in a state of
primitive simplicity. There are several rude castles
of the ancient nobility here, and numerous gloomy,
monastic institutions. In one of these dilapidated
castles, there was born, in the year 1500, a boy, who
received the name of Ferdinand de Soto. His par¬
ents were Spanish nobles, perhaps the most haughty
class of nobility which has ever existed. It was,
however, a decayed family, so impoverished as to
find it difficult to maintain the position of gentility.
The parents were not able to give their son a liberal
education. Their rank did not allow them to intro*
t*
10
DE SOTO
(luce him to any of the pursuits of industry ; and s<i
far as can now be learned ; the years of his early
youth were spent in idleness.
Ferdinand was an unusually handsome boy. He
grew up tall, well formed, and with remarkable mus¬
cular strength and agility. He greatly excelled in
fencing, horseback riding, and all those manly exer¬
cises which were then deemed far more essential for
a Spanish gentleman than literary culture. He was
fearless, energetic, self-reliant; and it was manifest
that he was endowed with mental powers of much
native strength.
When quite a lad he attracted the attention of a
wealthy Spanish nobleman, Don Pedro de Avila, who
sent him to one of the Spanish universities, probably
t
that of Saragossa, and maintained him there for six
years. Literary culture was not then in high repute;
but it was deemed a matter of very great moment
that a nobleman of Spain should excel in horseman-
, in fencing, and in wielding every weapon of at¬
tack or defence.
Ferdinand became quite renowned for his lofty
bearing, and for all chivalric accomplishments. At
the tournaments, and similar displays of martial
prowess then in vogue, he was prominent, exciting
the envy of competitive cavaliers, and winning the
admiration of the ladies.
CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH. II
Don Pedro became very proud of his foster son,
received him to his family, and treated him as though
he were his own child. The Spanish court had at
that time established a very important colony at the
province of Darien, on the Isthmus of Panama.
*
This isthmus, connecting North and South America,
is about three hundred miles long and from forty to
sixty broad. A stupendous range of mountains runs
along its centre, apparently reared as an eternal bar¬
rier between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. From
several of the summits of this ridge the waters of
the two oceans can at the same time be distinctly
seen. Here the Spanish court, in pursuit of its en-
i
n .
ergetic but cruel conquest of America, had estab¬
lished one of its most merciless colonies. There
was gold among the mountains. The natives had
many golden ornaments. They had no conception
of the value of the precious ore in civilized lands.
Readily they would exchange quite large masses of
gold for a few glass beads. The great obj ect of the
Spaniards in the conquest of Darien was to obtain
gold. They inferred that if the ignorant natives,
without any acquaintance with the arts, had ob¬
tained so much, there must be immense quantities
which careful searching and skilful mining would re¬
veal.
The wanton cruelties practised by the Spaniards
12
DE SOTO.
upon the unoffending natives of these climes seem to
have been as senseless as they were fiendlike. It is
often difficult to find any motive for their atrocities.
These crimes are thoroughly authenticated, and yet
they often seem like the outbursts of demoniac ma¬
lignity. Anything like a faithful recital of them
would torture the sensibilities of our readers almost
beyond endurance. Mothers and maidens were
hunted and torn down by bloodhounds; infant chil¬
dren were cut in pieces, and their quivering limbs
thrown to the famished dogs.
The large wealth and the rank of Don Pedro de
Avila gave him much influence at the Spanish court.
He succeeded in obtaining the much-coveted ap-
O *
pointment of Governor of Darien. His authority
was virtually absolute over the property, the liberty,
and the lives of a realm, whose extended limits were
not distinctly defined.
Don Pedro occupied quite an imposing castle, his
in the vicinity of Badajoz. Here
mansion.
the poor boy Ferdinand, though descended from fam¬
ilies of the highest rank, was an entire dependent
upon his benefactor. The haughty Don Pedro
treated him kindly. Still he regarded him, in conse¬
quence of his poverty, almost as a favored menial
He fed him, clothed him, patronized him.
i
It was in the year 1514 that Don Pedro entered
CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH. 13
upon his office of Governor of Darien. The insa
tiate thirst for gold caused crowds to flock to his
banners. A large fleet was soon equipped, and more
than two thousand persons embarked at St. Lucar for
the golden land. The most of these were soldiers ;
men of sensuality, ferocity, and thirst for plunder.
Not a few noblemen joined the enterprise; some to
add to their already vast possessions, and others hop-
ing to retrieve their impoverished fortunes.
A considerable number of priests . accompanied
the expedition, and it is very certain that some of
these at least were actuated by a sincere desire to do
good to the natives, and to win them to the religion
of Jesus-:—that religion which demands that we
should do to others as we would that others should
do to us, and whose principles, the governor, the no¬
bles, and the soldiers, were ruthlessly trampling be¬
neath their feet. Don Pedro, when measured by the
standard of Christianity, was proud, perfidious and
tyrannical. The course he pursued upon his arrival
in the country was impolitic and almost insane.
His predecessor in the governorship was Vasco
Nunez. He had been on the whole a prudent, able
and comparatively merciful governor. He had en-
%
tered into trade with the natives, and had so far se-
14
DE SOTO.
had sent out Indian explorers, with careful instruo
moun
tains. Don Pedro, upon assuming the reins of gov¬
ernment, became very jealous of the popularity of
Nunez, whom he supplanted. His enmity soon be¬
came so implacable that, without any cause, he ac¬
cused him of treason and ordered him to be decapi-
I
tated. The sentence was executed in the public
square of Acla. Don Pedro himself gazed on the
cruel spectacle concealed in a neighboring house.
He seemed ashamed to meet the reproachful eye of
his victim, as with an axe his head was cut off upon
a block.
All friendly relations with the Indians were
speedily terminated. They were robbed of their
gold, of their provisions, and their persons were out-
. i
raged in the most cruel manner. The natives, tei
*
ror-stricken, fled from the vicinity of the colony, and
suddenly the Spaniards found all their supplies of
provisions cut off. More than two thousand were
crowded into a narrow space on the shores of the
gulf, with no possibility of obtaining food. They
were entirely unprepared for any farming operations,
having neither agricultural tools nor seed. Neither
T
if they had them could they wait for the slow advent
of the harvest. Famine commenced its reign, and
with famine, its invariable attendant, pestilence. In
CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH.
15
less than six months, of all the glittering hosts, which
with music and banners had landed upon the isth¬
mus, expecting soon to return to Europe with their
ships freighted with gold, but a few hundred were
found alive, and they were haggard and in rags.
The Spaniards had robbed the Indians of their
golden trinkets, but these trinkets could not be eaten
and they would purchase no food. They were as
worthless as pebbles picked from the beach. Often
►
lumps of gold, or jewels of inestimable value, were
offered by one starving wretch to another for a piece
4
4
of mouldyjoread. The colony would have become
entirely extinct, but for the opportune arrival of ves¬
sels from Spain with provisions. Don Pedro had
sent out one or two expeditions of half-famished men
to seize the rice, Indian corn, and other food, wher¬
ever such food could be found.
The natives had sufficient intelligence to perceive
that the colonists were fast wasting away. The In¬
dians were gentle and amiable in character, and nat¬
urally timid; with no taste for the ferocities of war.
But emboldened by the miseries of the colonies, and
beginning to despise their weakness, they fell upon
the foraging parties with great courage and drove
them back ignominiously to the coast. The arrival
of the ships to which we have referred with provis-
16
DE SOTO.
ions and reinforcements, alone saved the colony from
utter extinction.
Don Pedro, after having been in the colony five
years, returned to Spain to obtain new acquisitions
of strength in men and means for the prosecution of
ever-enlarging plans of wealth and ambition. Noith
and south of the narrow peninsula were the two ma¬
jestic continents of North and South America.
They both invited incursions, where nations could
be overthrown, empires established, fame won, and
where mountains of gold might yet be found.
It seems that De Soto had made the castle of
Don Pedro, near Badajoz, his home during the ab¬
sence of the governor. There all his wants had
been provided for through the charitable munifi¬
cence of his patron. He probably had spent his
term time at the university. Pie was now nineteen
years of age, and seemed to have attained the full
maturity of his physical system, and had developed
into a remarkably elegant young man.
The family of Don Pedro had apparently remain¬
ed at the castle. His second daughter, Isabella, was
a very beautiful girl in her sixteenth year. She had
all eady been presented at the resplendent court of
Spain, where she had attracted great admiration.
Rich, beautiful and of illustrious birth, many noble¬
men had sought her hand, and among the rest, one
CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH.
1 7
of the princes of the blood royal. But Isabella and
De Soto, much thrown together in the paternal cas«
tie, had very naturally fallen in love with each other.
The haughty governor was one day exceedingly
astounded and enraged, that De Soto had the audac¬
ity to solicit the hand of his daughter in marriage.
In the most contemptuous and resentful manner, he
repelled the proposition as an insult. De Soto was
keenly wounded. He was himself a man of noble
birth. He had no superior among all the young no-
blemen around him, in any chivalric accomplishment.
The only thing wanting was money. Don Pedro
loved his daughter, was proud of her beauty and ce¬
lebrity, and was fully aware that she had a very de¬
cided will of her own.
After the lapse of a few days, the governor was
not a little alarmed by a statement, which the gover¬
ness of the young lady ventured to make to him.
She assured him that Isabella had given her whole
heart to De Soto, and that she had declared it to be
her unalterable resolve to retire to a convent, rather
than to become the wife of any other person. Don
Pedro was almost frantic with rage. As totally de-
v oid of moral principle as he was of human feelings,
he took measures to have De Soto assassinated.
Such Is the uncontradicted testimony of contempo¬
rary historians. But every day revealed to him more
18 DE SOTO.
clearly the strength of Isabella’s attachment for De
Soto, and the inflexibility of her will. He became se¬
riously alarmed, not only from the apprehension that
if her wishes were thwarted, no earthly power could
A
prevent her from burying herself in a convent, but
he even feared that if De Soto were to be assassina¬
ted, she would, by self-sacrifice, follow him to the
world of spirits. This caused him to feign partial
reconciliation, and to revolve in his mind more cau¬
tious plans for his removal.
He decided to take De Soto back with him to
¥
Darien. The historians of those days represent that
it was his intention to expose his young protege to
such perils in wild adventures in the New World, as
would almost certainly secure his death. De Soto
himself, proud though poor, was tortured by the con¬
temptuous treatment which he received, even from
s
the menials in the castle, who were aware of his re¬
jection by their proud lord. He therefore eagerly
availed himself of the invitation of Don Pedro to
join in a new expedition which he.was fitting out for
Darien.
<
He resolved, at whatever sacrifice, to be rich
The acquisition of gold, and the accumulation of
fame, became the great objects of his idolatry. With
these he could not only again claim the hand of Isa¬
bella, but the haughty Don Pedro would eagerly seek
CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH.
19
the alliance of a man of wealth and renown. Thou¬
sands of adventurers were then crowding to the
A
shores of the New World, lured by the accounts of
the boundless wealth which it was said could there
be found, and inspired by the passion which then
b*
pervaded Christendom, of obtaining celebrity by the
performance of chivalric deeds.
Many had returned greatly enriched by the plun¬
der of provinces. The names of Pizarro and Cortez
1
had been borne on the wings of renown through all
the countries of Europe, exciting in all honorable
A
minds disgust, in view of their perfidy and cruelty,
and inspiring others with emotions of admiration, in
contemplation of their heroic adventures.
b
De Soto was greatly embarrassed by his poverty.
Both his parents were dead. He was friendless ;
and it was quite impossible for him to provide himself
with an outfit suitable to the condition of a Spanish
grandee. The insulting treatment he had received
from Don Pedro rendered it impossible for him to
approach that haughty man as a suppliant for aid.
But Don Pedro did not dare to leave De Soto behind
4
him. The family were to remain in the ancestral
home. And it was very certain that, Don Pedro be-
b
ing absent, ere long he would hear of the elopement
of Ferdinand and Isabella. Thus influenced, he
offered De Soto a free passage to Darien, a captain’s
DE SOTO.
commission with a suitable outfit, and pledged him¬
self that he should have ample opportunity of ac¬
quiring wealth and distinction, in an expedition he
was even then organizing for the conquest of Peru.
As Don Pedro made these overtures to the young
man, with apparently the greatest cordiality, assum¬
ing that De Soto, by embarking in the all-important
enterprise, would confer a favor rather than receive
one, the offer was eagerly accepted.
Don Pedro did everything in his power to pre¬
vent the two lovers from having any private inter¬
view before the expedition sailed. But the ingenu¬
ity of love as usual triumphed over that of avarice.
Isabella and De Soto met, and solemnly pledged con¬
stancy to each other. It seems that Isabella thor¬
oughly understood the character of her father, and
knew that he would shrink from no crime in the ac¬
complishment of his purposes. As she took her
final leave of her lover, she said to him, very solemn¬
ly and impressively,
“ Ferdinand, remember that one treacherous
friend is more dangerous than a thousand avowed
enemies ”
CHAPTER II.
The Spanish Colony .
Character of De Soto.—Cruel Command of Don Pedro.—Incident.—
The Duel.—Uracca.—Consternation at Darien.—Expedition Or¬
ganized.—Uracco’s Reception of Espinosa and his Troops.—
The Spaniards Retreat.—De Soto Indignant,—Espinosa’s Cruel¬
ty, and Deposition from Command.
It was in the year 1519, when the expedition sailed
from St. Lucar for Darien. We have no account of
the incidents which occurred during the voyage.
The fleet reached Darien in safety, and the Spanish
adventurers, encased in coats of mail, which the ar-
rows and javelins of .the natives could not pierce,
mounted on powerful war horses, armed with mus-
kets and cannon, and with packs of ferocious blood¬
hounds at their command, were all prepared to scat¬
ter the helpless natives before them, as the whirl¬
wind scatters autumnal leaves.
De Soto was then but nineteen years of age. In
w
stature and character’he was a mature man. There
are many indications that he was a young man of
humane and honorable instincts, shrinking from the
deeds of cruelty and injustice which he saw every-
DE SOTO.
where perpetrated around him.
It is however prob-
times
from
kindly nature recoiled.
monster
He gave
De Soto command of a troop of horse. He sent him
on many expeditions which required not only great
to
m
It is how¬
ever much to the credit of De Soto, that the annal-
mentioned
•*i
nection with those atrocities which disgraced the
administration of Don Pedro. He even ventured at
♦
times to refuse obedience to the orders of the gov¬
ernor, when commanded to engage in some service
which he deemed dishonorable.
One remarkable instance of this moral and phys¬
ical intrepidity is on record. Don Pedro had deter-
Vt
mined upon the entire destruction of a little village
occupied by the natives. The torch was to be ap¬
plied, and men, women and children, were to be put
to the sword. Don Pedro had issued such a
mand as this, with as much indifference as he would
com
have placed his foot upon an anthill.
It is not im¬
probable that one of the objects he had in view was
to impose a revolting task upon De Soto, that he
4
might be, as it were, whipped into implicit obedience.
THE SPANISH COLONY.
23
He therefore sent one of the most infamous of his
captains to De Soto with the command that he
should immediately take a troop of horse, proceed to
the doomed village, gallop into its peaceful and de¬
fenceless street, set fire to every dwelling, and with
their keen sabres, cut down every man, woman and
child. It was a deed fit only for demons to execute.
De Soto deemed himself insulted in being ordered
on such a mission. This was not war,—it was butch¬
ery.
The defenceless natives could make no resist¬
ance. Indignantly and heroically he replied:
“ Tell Don Pedro, the governor, that my life and
services are always at his disposal, when the duty to
be performed is such as may become a Christian and
a gentleman. But in the present case, I think the
governor would have shown more discretion by en¬
trusting you, Captain Perez-, with this commission,
instead of sending you with the order to myself.”
This reply Captain Perez might certainly regard
as reflecting very severely upon his own character,
and as authorizing him to demand that satisfaction
which, under such circumstances, one cavalier expects
of another. He however carried the message to the
governor. Don Pedro was highly gratified. He saw
that a duel was the necessary result. Captain Perez
was a veteran soldier, and was the most expert
swordsman in the army. He was famed for his quar-
4
DE SOTO.
relsome disposition; had already fought many duels,
in which he had invariably killed his man. In a ren¬
contre between the' youthful De Soto and the veter¬
an Captain Perez, there could be no doubt in the
mind of the governor as to the result. He therefore
*
smiled very blandly upon Captain Perez, and said in
language which the captain fully understood:
“ Well, my friend, if you, who are a veteran sol¬
dier, can endure the insolence of this young man,
De Soto, I see no reason why an infirm old man like
myself should not show equal forbearance.”
Captain Perez was not at all reluctant to take the
hint. It was only giving him an opportunity to add
another to the list of those who had fallen before his
sword. The challenge was immediately given. De
Soto’s doom was deemed sealed. Duels in the Span
ish army were fashionable, and there was no mora.
The two combatants met with drawn swords ii.
officers
army, and of a vast concourse of spectators. The
stripling De Soto displayed skill with his weapon
which not only baffled his opponent, but which ex¬
cited the surprise and admiration of all the on-look¬
ers. For two hours the deadly conflict continued,
without any decisive results. De Soto had received
THE SPANISH COLONY. 25
several trifling wounds, while his antagonist was un¬
harmed. At length, by a fortunate blow, he inflicted
such a gash upon the right wrist of Perez, that his
sword dropped from his hand. As he attempted to
/
catch it with his left hand, he stumbled and fell to the
r
ground. De Soto instantly stood over him with his
1
sword at his breast, demanding that he should ask
for his life. The proud duellist, thus for the first
time in his life discomfited, was chagrined beyond en<
durance. In sullen silence, he refused to cry foi
mercy. De Soto magnanimously returned his sword
to its scabbard, saying: “The life that is not worth
asking for, is not worth taking.”
He then gracefully bowed to the numerous spec*
w
tators and retired from the field, greeted with the ern
thusiastic acclaim of all who were present. This
achievement gave the youthful victor prominence
above any other man in the army. Perez was so hu¬
miliated by his defeat, that he threw up his commis¬
sion and returned to Spain. Thus the New World
was rid of one of the vilest of the adventurers who
had cursed it.
The region of the peninsula, and the adjoining
territory of South America, were at that time quite
densely populated. The inhabitants seem to have
been a happy people, not fond of war, and yet by no
means deficient in bravery. The Spanish colonists
26
DE SOTO.
were but a handful among them. But the war horse
bloodhounds, steel coats of mail and gunpowder,
gave them an immense, almost resistless superiority.
There was at this time, about the year 1521, an
Indian chief by the name of Uracca, who reigned
over quite a populous nation, occupying one of the
northern provinces of the isthmus. He was a man
of unusual intelligence and ability. The outrages
which the Spaniards were perpetrating roused all his
energies of resentment, and he resolved to adopt des¬
perate measures for their extermination. He gath¬
ered an army of twenty thousand men. In that warm
climate, in accordance with immemorial usage, they
went but half clothed. Their weapons were mainly
bows, with poisoned arrows; though they had also
javelins and clumsy swords made of a hard kind of
wood.
The tidings of the approach of this army excited
the greatest consternation at Darien. A shower of
poisoned arrows from the strong arms of twenty thou¬
sand native warriors, driven forward by the energies
of despair, even these steel-clad adventurers could
not contemplate without dread. The Spaniards had
taught the natives cruelty. They had hunted them
down with bloodhounds; they had cut off their hands
with the sword; they had fed their dogs with their
infants; had tortured them at slow fires and cast
THE SPANISH COLONY.
27
their children into the flames. They could not ex-
pect that the natives could be more merciful than the
Spaniards had been.
Don Pedro, instead of waiting the arrival of his
foes, decided to assail the army on its march, hoping
to take it by surprise and to throw consternation into
the advancing ranks. He divided his army of attack
into two parties. One division of about one hundred
men, he sent in two small vessels along the western
%
coast of the isthmus, to invade the villages of Urac-
1
ca, hoping thus to compel the Indian chief to draw
back his army for the defence of his own territories.
This expedition was under the command of General
Espinosa.
The main body of the Spanish troops, consisting
of about two hundred men, marched along the east¬
ern shore of the isthmus, intending eventually to ef¬
fect a junction with the naval force in the realms of
the foe. The energetic, but infamous Franc’sco Pi-
zarro, led these troops. A very important part of
his command consisted of a band of dragoons, thirty
or forty in number, under the leadership of De Soto.
His steel-clad warriors were well mounted, with hous¬
ings which greatly protected their steeds from the
arrows of the natives.
The wary Indian chieftain, who developed during
the campaign military abilities of a high order, had
2.8
DE SOTO.
his scouts out in all directions. They discerned in
the dist an t horizon the approach of the two vessels,
and swift runners speedily reported the fact to Urac-
ca. He immediately marched with a force in his
♦
judgment sufficiently strong to crush the invaders,
notwithstanding their vast superiority in arms.
The Spaniards entered a sheltered bay skirted by
a plain, which could be swept by their guns, and
where the Indian warriors would have no opportunity
to hide in ambush. Uracca allowed the Spaniards
to disembark unopposed. He stationed his troops,
several thousand in number, in a hilly country, several
leagues distant from the place of landing, which was
broken with chasms and vast boulders, and covered
with tropical forest.
Here every Indian could fight
behind a rampart, and the Spaniards could only ap¬
proach in the scattered line of skirmishers. The
proud Spaniards advanced in their invading march
with as much of war’s pageantry as could be assumed.
They hoped that nodding plumes and waving ban¬
ners, and trumpet peals, would strike with conster-
' nation the heart of the Indians.
Uracca calmly awaited their approach. His men
were so concealed that Espinosa could form no judg¬
ment of their numbers or position. Indeed he was
scarcely conscious that there was any foe there who
would venture to oppose his march. Accustomed as
THE SPANISH COLONY.
29
he was to ride rough shod over the naked Indians,
he was emboldened by a fatal contempt for the prow¬
ess of his foe. Uracca allowed the Spaniards to be¬
come entangled in the intricacies of rocks and gul¬
lies and gigantic forest trees, when suddenly he
opened upon them such a shower of poisoned arrows
as the Spaniards had never encountered before. The
touch of one of these arrows, breaking the skin,
caused immediate and intense agony, and almost cer¬
tain death. ' The sinewy arms of the Indians could
throw these sharp-pointed weapons with almost the
precision and force of a bullet, and with far greater
rapidity than the Spaniards could load and fire their
muskets.
Espinosa found himself assailed by a foe out¬
numbering him ten or twenty to one. The air was
almost darkened with arrows, and every one was
thrown with unerring aim. The rout of the Span¬
iards was almost instantaneous. Several were killed,
n
many wounded. In a panic, they turned and fled
precipitately from the trap in which they had been
caught. The natives impetuously pursued, showing
no quarter, evidently determined to exterminate the
whole band.
n
It so happened that De Soto, with his dragoons,
had left Pizarro’s band, and in a military incur¬
sion into the country, was approaching the bay
So
DE SOTO.
where Espinosa had landed his troops. Suddenly the
clamor of the conflict burst upon his ear—the shouts
of the Indian warriors and the cry of the fugitive
Spaniards. His little band put spurs to their horses
and hastened to the scene of action. Very great
difficulties impeded their progress. The rugged
ground, encumbered by rocks and broken by ravines,
was almost impassable for horsen\en. But the energy
of De Soto triumphed over these obstacles, even when
the bravest of his companions remonstrated and hesi¬
tated to follow him. At length he reached the open
country over which the Spaniards were rushing to
gain their ships, pursued by the Indians in numbers
and strength which seemed to render the destruction
of the Spaniards certain.
The natives stood in great dread of the horses.
When they saw the dragoons, glittering in their steel
armor, come clattering down upon the plain, their
pursuit was instantly checked. Espinosa, thus unex¬
pectedly reinforced, rallied his panic-stricken troops,
and in good order continued the retreat to the ships.
De Soto with his cavalry occupied the post of danger
as rear-guard. The Indians cautiously followed,
watching for every opportunity which the inequalities
of the ground might offer, to assail the invaders with
showers of arrows. Occasionally De Soto would
halt and turn his horses’ heads towards the Indians
THE SPANISH COI.ONY. 31
Apprehensive of a charge, they would then fall
back. The retreat was thus conducted safely, but
slowly.
The Spaniards had advanced many leagues from
the shores of the Pacific. They were now almost
perishing from hunger and fatigue. Indian bands
were coming from all directions to reinforce the na¬
tive troops. The sun was going down and night was
approaching. All hearts were oppressed with the
greatest anxiety. Just then Pizarro, with his two
hundred men, made his appearance. He had not
been far away, and a courier having informed him of
the peril of the Spaniards, he hastened to their relief.
Night with its gloom settled down over the plain, and
hideous clamor was for a few hours hushed.
war’s
The morning would usher in a renewal of the battle,
under circumstances which caused the boldest hearts
in the Spanish camp to tremble.
In the night Generals Espinosa and Pizarro held a
council of war, and came to the inglorious resolve to
steal away under the protection of darkness, leaving
Uracca in undisputed possession of the field. This
*
decision excited the indignation of De Soto. He
considered it a disgrace to the Spanish arms, and de-
i
dared that it wou.d only embolden the natives in all
their future military operations. His bitter remon¬
strances were only answered by a sneer from General
1
32
DE SOTO.
Espinosa, who assured him that the veteran captains
of Spain would not look to his youth and inexperi¬
ence for guidance and wisdom.
At 'midnight the Spaniards commenced their re¬
treat as secretly and silently as possible. But they
9
had a foe to deal with who was not easily to be de-
4 1
ceived. His scouts were on the alert, and immediate
notice was communicated to Uracca of the move*
ments of the Spaniards. The pursuit was conducted
with as much vigor as the flight. For eight and forty
hours the fugitives were followed so closely, and with
such fierce assailment, that large numbers of the
rank and file perished. The officers and the dragoons
of De Soto, wearing defensive armor, generally es¬
caped unharmed. The
remnant
famine-stricken, reached their ships and immediately
put to sea. With the exception of De Soto’s dra¬
goons, they numbered but fifty men. Deeply despon-
( 9
*
dent in view of their disastrous campaign, they sailed
several leagues along the western coast of the isth-
*
mus towards the south, till they reached a flourishing
Indian village called Borrica. Conscious that here
they were beyond the immediate reach of Uracca’s
avenging forces, they ventured to land. They found
all the men absent. They were probably in the ranks
of the native army.
General Espinosa, who was .now chief in
com-
THE SPANISH COLONY.
33
/*
mand, meanly sacked the defenceless village und
captured all the women and children, to be seat to
4 m
the West Indies and sold as slaves. The generous:
heart of De Soto was roused by this outrage. He
was an imperious man, and was never disposed to be
very complaisant to his superiors. Sternly the young
captain. rebuked Espinosa as a kidnapper, stealing
the defenceless ; and he demanded that the prisoners
should be set at liberty. An angry controversy en¬
sued. De Soto accused Espinosa of cowardice and
imbecility, in ordering the troops of Spain to retreat
before naked savages. Espinosa, whose domineering
spirit could brook no opposition, accused De Soto of
mutinous conduct, and threatened to report him to
the governor. De Soto angrily turned his heel upon
his superior officer and called upon his troops to
i
mount their horses. Riding proudly at their bead, he
approached the tent of Espinosa and thus addressed
*
him:
“ Senor Espinosa, the governor did not place me
under your command, and you have no claim to my
obedience. I now give you notice, that if you retain
these prisoners so cruelly and unjustly captured, you
must do so at your own risk. If these Indian war¬
riors choose to make any attempt to recover their
wives and their children, I declare to you upon
my solemn oath, and by all that I hold most sacred.
4
34
DE SOTO.
that they shall meet with no opposition from me.
Considei, therefore, whether you have t.ie power
to defend yourself and secure your prey, when
I and my companions have withdrawn from this
spot.”
lizairo does not seem to have taken any active
part in this dispute, though he advised the headstrong
Espinosa to give up his captives. While these scenes
were transpiring, about one hundred of the men of
n
the village returned.
Most earnestly they en¬
treated the release of their
wives and children.
If not peacefully released, it was pretty evident
that they would fight desperately for their res¬
cue. It was quite apparent that the Indian runners
had gone in all directions to summon others to their
aid. The withdrawal of De Soto left Espinosa so
weakened that he could hardly hope successfully to
repel such forces.
Indeed he was so situated that,
destitute of provisions and ammunition, he did not
dare to undertake a march back through the wilder¬
ness to Darien. He therefore very ungraciously
consented to surrender his captives.
Governor Don Pedro had established his head¬
quarters at Panama. De Soto, accompanied by a
single dragoon, who like himself was an admirable
horseman, rode with the utmost possible dispatch to
Panama, where he informed the governor of the dis-
TIIE SPANISH COLONY.
35
4
asters which had befallen the expedition, and of
the precarious condition in which he had left the
remnant of the troops. He also made such represen¬
tation of the military conduct of General Espinosa as
to induce the governor to remove him from the com¬
mand and send General Herman Ponce to take his
place. The garrison at Panama was then so weak
that only forty men could be spared to go to the re¬
lief of the troops at Borrica.
■ In the mean time the Indian chief Uracca had
received full information of the position and condition
of the Spanish troops. Very sagaciously he formed
his plan to cut off their retreat. Detachments of
warriors were placed at every point through which
they could escape ; they could not venture a league
from their ramparts on any foraging expedition, and
no food could reach them. They obtained a misera¬
ble subsistence from roots and herbs.
At length De Soto returned with a fresh supply
of ammunition and the small reinforcement. By the
aid of his cavalry he so far broke up the blockade as
to obtain food for the famishing troops. Still it was
very hazardous to attempt a retreat to Panama
With
their
whole army, infantry and cavalry, amounted to less
than one hundred and fifty men. They would be
36
DE SOTO.
compelled on their retreat to climb mountains, plur.ge
into ragged ravines, thread tropical forests and nar¬
row defiles, where armies of uncounted thousands of
natives were ready to dispute their passage.
CHAPTER III.
Reinforcements from Spain.—Aid sent to Borrica.—Line .of Defense
Chosen, by the Natives.—Religion of the Buccaneers.—The Bat¬
tle and the Rout.—Strategy of Uracca.—Cruelty of Don Pedro.—
The Retreat.—Character of Uracca.—Embarrassment of Don
Pedro.—Warning of M. Codro.—Expedition of Pizarro.—Mission
of M. Codro.—Letter of De Soto to Isabella.
M
While governor Don Pedro was awaiting with in¬
tense anxiety the receipt of intelligence from Bor¬
rica, a ship arrived from Spain bringing three or
four hundred adventurers, all of whom were eager
for any military expedition which would open to them
an opportunity for plunder. One hundred and fifty
of these were regular soldiers, well taught in the
♦
dreadful trade of war. Don Pedro took these fresh
troops and one hundred and fifty volunteers, and set
out with the utmost expedition for Borrica. His im¬
petuous nature was inspired with zeal to retrieve the
disgrace which had befallen the Spanish arms. He
took with him several pieces of ordnance, — guns
with which the Indians thus far had no acquaintance.
if
Upon arriving at Borrica he very earnestly har¬
angued his troops, reminding them of the ancient re-
3S
DE SOTO.
stimulating
Ver
nown of the Spanish soldiers, and
cupidity by the assurance that the
agua, over which Uracca reigned, was full of gold;
and that all that was now requisite for the conquest
of the country and the accumulation of princely
wealth, was a display of the bravery ever character¬
istic of Spanish troops.
There was a deep and rapid river, the Arva, rush-
v
ing down from the mountains, which it was necessary
for the Spaniards to cross in their renewed invasion
of Veragua. On the northern banks of this stream
Uracca stationed his troops, selecting this spot with
much skill as his main line of defence. He however
i
posted an advanced guard some miles south of the
stream in ground broken by hills, rocks and ravines,
through which the Spaniards would be compelled to
pass, and where their cavalry could be of very little
avail.
By
effort Don Pedro had collected an
army of about five hundred men. Rapidly • march-
i
ing, he soon reached the spot of broken ground
where the native troops were stationed awaiting their
approach.
It seems almost incomprehensible that this band
of thieves and murderers, who, without the slightest
excuse or provocation, were invading the territory of
the peaceful natives, carrying to their homes death
LIFE AT DARIEN.
39
and woe, that they might acquire fame for military
>
exploits and return laden with plunder, could have
looked to God for his blessing upon their infamous
expedition. But so it was. And still more strange
to say, they did not apparently engage in these religi <
ous services with any consciousness of hypocrisy.
The thoughtful mind is bewildered in contemplating
such developments of the human heart. Previous to
the attack the whole army was drawn up for prayers,
which were solemnly offered by the ecclesiastics who
always accompanied these expeditions. Then every
soldier attended the confessional and received abso¬
lution. Thus he felt assured that, should he fall in
A
the battle, he would be immediately translated to the
%
realms of the blest.
1
Thus inspired by military zeal and religious fa¬
naticism, the Spaniards rushed upon the natives in a
very impetuous assault. We are happy to record
that the natives stood nobly on the defence. They
met their assailants with such a shower of arrows
and javelins that the Spaniards were first arrested
in their march, then driven back, then utterly routed
and put to flight. In that broken ground where the
cavalry could not be brought into action, where every
native warrior stood behind a tree or a rock, and
where the natives did not commence the action till
the Spaniards were within half bow shot of them, ar
40
DE SOTO.
rows and javelins were even more potent weapons of
war than the clumsy muskets then in use.
Upon the open field the arrows of the natives
were quite impotent. • A bullet could strike the heart
at twice or three times the distance at which an ar¬
row could be thrown. The Spaniards, hotly pursued,
retreated from this broken ground several miles back
into the open plain. Many were slain. Here the
*
,rout was arrested by the cavalry and the discharges
►
from the field-pieces, which broke the Indian ranks.
The natives, however, boldly held their ground,
and the Spaniards, disheartened and mortified by their
discomfiture, encamped upon the plain. It was very
evident that God had not listened to their prayers.
For several days they remained in a state of un¬
certainty. For five hundred Spaniards to retreat be¬
fore eight hundred natives, would inflict a stigma
upon their army which could never be effaced. They
dared not again attack the natives who were flushed
with victory in their stronghold. They were well
aware that the band of warriors before them was but
These eight hundred natives were led by one
Uracca’s brothers. Even should these Indians be
attacked and repulsed, they had only to retreat a few
miles, cross the river Arva in their canoes, and or
4
LIFE AT DARIEN.
41
*
ty thousand men under their redoubtable chief, who
had already displayed military abilities which com¬
pelled the Spaniards to regard him with dread.
Affairs were in this position when Uracca adopted
a stratagem which completely deceived the Spaniards
and inflicted upon them very serious loss,
several of his warriors to be taken captive.
He
When
closely questioned by Don Pedro where, gold was to
be found, and threatened with torture if they refused
the information, they with great apparent reluctance
directed their captors to a spot, at the distance of but
a few leagues, where the precious metal could be ob-
*
tained in great abundance. These unlettered sav¬
ages executed their artifice with skill which would
have done honor even to European diplomatists.
Don Pedro immediately selected a company of
forty of his most reliable men and sent them to the
designated spot. Here they were surrounded by In¬
dian warriors in ambush, and the whole party, with
the exception of three, put to death. The three who
escaped succeeded in reaching the Spanish camp
with tidings of the disaster. Don Pedro in his rage
ordered his captives to be torn to pieces by the blood¬
hounds. They were thrown naked to the dogs. The
Spaniards looked on complacently, as the merciless
beasts, with bloody fangs, tore them limb from limb,
devouring their quivering flesh. The natives bore
42
DE SOTO.
this awful punishment with fortitude and heroism,
which elicited the admiration of their foes. With
their last breath they exulted that they were permit¬
ted. to die in defence of their country.
The expedition of Don Pedro had thus far proved
an utter failure. He had already lost one-fourth of
his army through the prowess of the natives. The
prospect before him was dark in the extreme. His
troops were thoroughly discouraged, and the difficul¬
ties still to be encountered seemed absolutely insur-
mountable. Humiliated as never before, the proud
Don Pedro was compelled to order a retreat Pie
returned to Panama, where, as we have mentioned,
he had removed his seat of government from Darien.
Panama was north of Darien, or rather west, as the
Its seaport was
isthmus
east and west,
tie Atlantic co;
Uracca
invaders, did not pursue the retreating Spaniards.
He probably in this course acted wisely. Could Don
Pedro have drawn his enemies into the open field, he
could undoubtedly have cut down nearly their whole
charges by his
A panic had
army with grape shot, musketry, and
strongly mounted steel-clad cavaliers,
however pervaded the Spanish camp. They were in
constant apprehension of pursuit. Even when they
had reached Panama, they were day after day in in*
LIFE AT DARIEN.
43
tense apprehension of the approach of their outnum¬
bering foes, by whose valor they had already been
discomfited, and so greatly disgraced.
“When the Spaniards looked out towards the
mountains and the plains,” writes the Spanish histo¬
rian Herrera, “ the boughs of trees and the very grass,
which grew high in the savannas, appeared to their
imagination
And
when they turned their eyes towards the sea, they
fancied that it was covered with canoes of their ex¬
asperated foemen.”
Uracca.must have been in all respects an extra¬
ordinary man. We have the record of his deeds
only from the pen of his enemies. And yet accord¬
ing to their testimony, he, a pagan, manifested far
more of the spirit of Christ than did his Christian
opponents. In the war which he was then waging,
there can be no question whatever that the wrong
was inexcusably and outrageously on the side of Don
We cannot learn that Uracca engaged in
Pedro.
any aggressive movements against the Spaniards
whatever. He remained content with expelling the
merciless intruders from his country. Even the fiend-
of the Spaniards could not provoke
barbarism
him to retaliatory cruelty. The brutal soldiery of
Spain paid no respect whatever to the wives and
daughters of the natives, even to those of the high¬
est chieftains.
44
BE SOTO.
On one occasion a Spanish lady, Donna Clara
Albitez, fell into the hands of Uracca. He treated
her with as much delicacy and tenderness as if she
had been his own daughter or mother, and availed
himself of the first opportunity of restoring her to
her friends.
Though De Soto was one of the bravest of his cav¬
aliers, and was so skilful as an officer that his services
were almost indispensable to Don Pedro, yet the gov¬
ernor was anxious to get rid of him. It is probable
that he felt somewhat condemned by the undeniable
virtues of De Soto ; for the most of men can feel the
power of high moral principle as witnessed in others.
De Soto, intensely proud, was not at all disposed to
4
play the sycophant before his patron. He had al-
s
ready exasperated him by his refusal to execute or¬
ders which he deemed dishonorable. And worst of
all, by winning the love of Isabella, he had thwarted
one of the most ambitious of Don Pedro’s plans ; he
having contemplated her alliance with one of the
most illustrious families of the Spanish nobility.
%
Don Pedro did not dare to send De Soto to the
scaffold or to order him to be shot. He had already
braved public opinion by the outrageous execution of
Vasco Nunez, without a shadow of law or justice,
and had drawn down upon himself an avalanche of
condemnation from the highest dignitaries of both
LIFE AT DARIEN.
45
uh&rch and state. He was trembling through fear
that the Spanish government might call him to ac¬
count for this tyrannic act. Thus situated, it was
highly impolitic to send De Soto, who was greatly
revered and admired by the army, to the block. He
therefore still sought, though with somewhat waning
zeal, to secure the death of De Soto on the field of
battle. De Soto could not fail to perceive that Don
Pedro was not his friend. Still, being a magnanimous
man himself, he could not suspect the governor of
being guilty of such treachery as to be plotting his
death.
When the little army of Spaniards was beleaguered
at Borrica, and De Soto with his cavalry was scour¬
ing the adjacent country on foraging expeditions, he
4
chanced to rescue from captivity M. Codro, an Ital¬
ian philosopher, who had accompanied the Spaniards
to Darien. In the pursuit of science, he had joined
the forty men who, under the command of Herman
Ponce, had been sent as a reinforcement to Borrica.
4
While at some distance from the camp on a botanical
<
excursion, he was taken captive by the natives, and
would have been put to death but for the timely res¬
cue by De Soto.
M. Codro was an astrologer. In that supersti¬
tious age he was supposed by others, and probably
himself supposed, that by certain occult arts he was
4 6
DE SOTO.
able to predict future events. Six months after the
return of the Spaniards from their disastrous expe¬
dition against Uracca, this singular man sought an
interview with De Soto, and said to him:
“ A good action deserves better reward than ver¬
bal acknowledgment. While it was not in my power
to make any suitable recompense to you for saving
my life, I did not attempt to offer you any. But the
time has now come when I can give you some sub¬
stantial evidence of my gratitude. I can now inform
you that your life is now in no less danger than mine
was when you rescued me from the Indians.”
De Soto replied : “ My good friend, though I do
not profess to be a thorough believer in your pro-
tions. And in this case, I am free to confess that
your information, from whatever source derived, is
confirmed in a measure by my own observations.”
“Ferdinand De Soto,” said the astrologer with
great deliberation and solemnity of manner, « I think
I can read the page of youT destiny, even without
such light as the stars can shed upon it. Be assured
that the warning I give you does not come from an
unearthly source. But if any supernatural confirma¬
tion of my words were needed, even on that score
you might be satisfied. While comparing your horo¬
scope with that of my departed friend Vasco Nunez,
LIFE AT DARIEN.
47
I have observed some resemblances in your lives and
fortunes, which you, with all your incredulity, must
allow to be remarkable. Nunez and you were both
born in the same town ; were both members of noble
but impoverished families ; both sought to ally your¬
selves with the family of Don Pedro, and both thus
incurred his deadly resentment.”
“These coincidences are certainly remarkable,”
replied De Soto ; “ but what other similarities do you
find in the destinies of Nunez and myself?”
a
m
“You are a brave man,” replied M. Codro, “ and
you are too skeptical to be much disturbed by the
prognostications of evil. I may therefore venture to
%
tell you that according to my calculations, you will be
in one important event of your life more happy than
Vasco Nunez. It seems to be indicated by the su¬
perior intelligences, that your death will not be in the
ordinary course of nature; but I find likewise that
the term of your life will be equal to that which Nu¬
nez attained. When I consider your present circum¬
stances, this appears to me to be the most improba¬
ble part of the prediction.”
Nunez was forty-two years old at the time of his
death. This gave De Soto the promise of nearly
twenty years more of life. Reverently he replied, “ I
am in the hands of God. I rely with humble confb
dence on his protection.”
DE SOTO.
" In that you do well,” rejoined M. Codro. " Still
it is your duty to use such human means as may be
required to defend yourself against open violence or
fraudful malice.”
De Soto thanked the astrologer for the caution he
had given him, and as he reflected upon it, saw that
it was indeed necessary to be constantly on his guard.
unciis-
As time passed on Don Pedro became more
guised in his hostility to De Soto. Ferdinand and
i
Isabella exerted all their ingenuity to correspond
with each other. Don Pedro had been equally vigi¬
lant in his endeavors to intercept their letters ; and
so effectual were the plans which he adopted, that
for five years, while the lovers remained perfectly
remembrance
passed between them.
These were weary years to De Soto. He was
bitterly disappointed in all his expectations. There
was no glory to be obtained even in victory, in riding
rough-shod over the poor natives. And thus far, in¬
stead of victory attending the Spanish arms, defeat
and disgrace had been their doom. Moreover, he was
astonished and heartily ashamed when he saw the
measures which his countrymen had adopted to en¬
rich themselves. They were highway robbers of the
most malignant type. They not only slaughtered the
victims whom they robbed, but fired their dwellings.
LIFE AT DARIEN.
49
trampled, down their harvests and massacred their
wives and children.
4
The most extravagant tales had been circulated
through Europe respecting the wealth of the New
World. It was said that masses of pure gold could ■
be gathered like pebble stones from the banks of the
rivers, and that gems of priceless value were to be
found in the ravines.
five
years on the isthmus of Darien, and had acquired
neither fame nor fortune, and there was nothing in
it
the prospect of the future to excite enthusiasm or
even hope.
There was quite a remarkable man, made so by
subsequent events, under the command of Don Pe¬
dro. His name was Francisco Pizarro. He was a
man of obscure birth and of very limited education,
save only in the material art of war. Pie could neither
read nor write, and was thus intellectually hardly the
equal of some of the most intelligent of the natives.
I
We have briefly alluded to him as entrusted with the
command of one portion of the army in the inglori¬
ous expedition against Uracca. De Soto had very
little respect for the man, and was not at all disposed
as a subordinate officer to look to him for counsel-
Don Pedro, however, seems to have formed a high
opinion of the military abilities of Pizarro. For not¬
withstanding his ignominious defeat and retreat from
%
So
DE SOTO.
Veragua, he now appointed him as the leader of an
expedition, consisting of one hundred and thirty men,
to explore the western coast of the isthmus by cruis¬
ing along the Pacific Ocean.
Pizarro set sail from Panama on the fourteenth of
November, 1524, in one small vessel. It was intend¬
ed that another vessel should, soon follow to render
such assistance as might be necessary. De Soto was
urged to become one of this party; but probably
from dislike of Pizarro, refused to place himself under
his command.
The vessel, which was soon joined by its consort
under Almagro, coasted slowly along in a northerly
direction, running in at every bay, and landing when¬
ever they approached a flourishing Indian village,
plundering the natives and maltreating them in every
shameful way. At length they aroused such a spirit
f
of desperation on the part of the natives, that they
fell upon the buccaneers with resistless ferocity.
Two-thirds of the miscreants were slain. Pizarro
barely escaped with his life, having received severe
wounds and being borne to his ship in a state of in¬
sensibility.
While Pizarro was absent on this ill-fated expe¬
dition, a new trouble befell Don Pedro. Las Casas,
a devoted Christian missionary, whose indignation
was roused to the highest pitch by the atrocities per-
LIFE AT DARIEN.
51
petrated upon the Indians, reported the inhuman
conduct of Don Pedro to the Spanish government
The King appointed Peter de Los Rios to succeed
him. The new governor was to proceed immediately
to Panama and bring the degraded official to trial,
and, if found guilty, to punishment. The governor of
a Spanish colony in those days was absolute. Don
Pedro had cut off the head of his predecessor, though
*
that predecessor was one of the best of men. He
now trembled in apprehension of the loss of his own
head. Conscious of his deserts, he was terror-
%
stricken.
About four or five hundred miles north of Pana¬
ma there was the magnificent province of Nicaragua.
The isthmus is here about one hundred and fifty
miles in breadth, and the province being about two
M
hundred miles in a line from north to south, extended
from the Atlantic to the Pacific shores. Don Pedro
was popular with his brutal soldiery, since he allowed
them unlimited license and plunder. He resolved,
surrounded by them, to take refuge in Nicaragua.
Nevertheless, to render himself as secure as possible,
he decided to send an agent to plead his cause at the
Spanish court.
Among those rude, unprincipled adventurers, men
of violence and blood, it was very difficult to find a
suitable person. At length he fixed with much hesi-
52
DE SOTO.
tation upon M. Codro, the astrologer. He was a
simple-minded, good man; learned, though very art¬
less. M. Codro was strongly attached to De Soto,
the preserver of his life. As we have seen, he was
well aware of the peril to which his benefactor was
hourly exposed from the malignity of the governor.
Gladly therefore he accepted the mission, as he
hoped it would afford him an opportunity of confer¬
ring some favor upon his imperilled friend.
Don Pedro had adopted the most rigorous meas¬
ures to prevent any communication between the col¬
ony and Spain, which was not subjected to his inspec¬
tion. He was mainly influenced to this course that
he might prevent the interchange of any messages
whatever between De Soto and Isabella. The most
severe penalties were' denounced against all persons .
who should convey any writing across the seas, ex-
II
cepting through the regular mails. But the grateful
M. Codro declared himself ready to run all risks in
carrying a letter from De Soto to Isabella. Though
De Soto at first hesitated to expose his friend to
such hazard, his intense desire to open some commu¬
nication with Isabella, at length induced him to ac¬
cept the generous offer.
As we have mentioned, for five years not one
word had passed between the lovers. It is said that
the following is a literal translation of the letter which
S3
LIFE AT DARIEN.
De Soto wrote. We cannot be certain of its authen¬
ticity, but it bears internal evidence of genuineness,
and a manuscript copy is in the library of a Spanish
gentleman who has spent his life in collecting docu¬
ments in reference to the past history of his country ?
“ Most Dearly Beloved Isabella :
“ For the first time within five years, I write to
you with some assurance that you will receive my let¬
ter. M an y times have I written before; but how
could I write freely when I had reason to fear that
other eyes might peruse those fond expressions which
your goodness and condescension alone could par¬
don ? But what reason have I to hope that you can
still look with favorable regard on my unworthiness ?
My mature judgment teaches me that this dream of
mv vouth, which I have so long cherished, is not pre¬
sumption merely, but madness.
“When I consider your many perfections, and
compare them with my own little deserving, I feel
that I ought to despair, even if I could empty into
your lap the treasure of a thousand kingdoms. How
then can I lift my eyes to you when I have nothing
to offer but the tribute of an affection which time
cannot change, and which must still live when my
last hope has departed.
“ O Isabella ! the expectation which brought me
54
DE SOTO.
to this land has not been fulfilled. I can gather no
gold, except by such means as my honor, my con¬
science and' yourself must condemn. Though your
nobleness may pity one on whom fortune has disdain-
>
ed to smile, I feel that your relations are justified in
claiming for you an alliance with exalted rank and
affluence ; and I love you far too well to regard my
own happiness more than your welfare. If, therefore,
in your extreme youth you have made a promise
which you now regret, as far as it is in my power to
absolve you from that engagement, you are released.
On my side, the obligation is sacred and eternal. It
is not likely that I shall ever return to my country.
While I am banished from your presence, all countries
are alike to me.
“ The person who brings you this exposes him-
n
self to great danger in his desire to serve me. I en¬
treat you to use such precautions as his safety may
require. If your goodness should vouchsafe any
message to me, he will deliver it, and you may have
perfect confidence in his fidelity. Pardon my bold¬
ness in supposing it possible that I still have a place
in your remembrance. Though you may now think
of me with indifference or dislike, do not censure me
too severely for calling myself unchangeably and de¬
votedly, Yours, De Soto.”
I
1
Demoniac Reign .
Giles Gonzales.—Unsuccessful Contest of De Soto with Gonzales.—
Bold Reply of De Soto to the Governor.—Cruelty of Don Pedro
to M. Codro.—Assassination of Cordova.—New Expedition of
Discovery.—Revenge upon Valenzuela.—Reign of Don Pedro at
Nicaragua.—Unwise Decision of De Soto.
It was supposed at that time that there must be
a strait somewhere north of Panama across the nar-
m
row isthmus, which would connect the waters of the
Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Several expeditions had
been fitted out in search of this all-important passage.
Almost invariably a company of priests joined, these
expeditions, who exerted all their energies to convert
the Indians to nominal Christianity. A fanatic ad-
T
venturer by the name of Giles Gonzales, acquired
much celebrity for his success in inducing the na¬
tives to accept the Christian faith and to acknowledge
fealty to the king of Spain. He was at the head of
one hundred steel-clad warriors. His mode of per¬
suasion, though unique, was very potent. When he
approached the seat of the chief of Nicaragua, he
sent a courier to him with the following message:
5<5
DE SOTO.
“ I am coming as a friend to teach you the only
►
true religion, and to persuade you to recognize the
most powerful monarch on the globe.- If you refuse
to yield to my teachings, you must prepare for battle,
and I challenge you to meet me in the field.”
The gentle and peace-loving natives contempla¬
ted with consternation these fierce Spaniards mount¬
ed on powerful war horses, animals which they had
never before seen, and glittering in coats of mail.
They had no religious creed to which they adhered
with any tenacity,
tatingly expressed his readiness to accept the new
faith, and in token of friendship, sent Gonzales a
quantity of gold, equal it is said in value to seventy-
five thousand dollars of our money. The Spanish
The Nicaraguan chief unhesi-
historian Herrera, whose record is generally deemed
in the main accurate, says that the chief, his family,
and nine thousand of his subjects, were baptized and
became Christians. Influenced by this example, and
by the glowing representations of the rewards which
were sure to follow the acceptance of the Christian
faith, more than thirty-six thousand of the natives
were baptized within the space of half a year. The
baptismal fees charged by Gonzales amounted to over
four hundred thousand dollars.
While Gonzales was engaged on his own respon¬
sibility in this career of spiritual conquest, with its
DEMONIAC REIGN.
57
rich pecuniary accompaniment, Don Pedro sent two
of his generals,- Ferdinand de Cordova and Ferdi¬
nand De, Soto, to explore Nicaragua and take pos¬
session of it in his name. He assumed that Gonzales,
acting without authority, was engaged in a treasona¬
ble movement. The two parties soon came into col¬
lision.
4
De Soto, with a party of fifty men, twenty of
them being well mounted cavaliers, encamped at a
small village called Torebo. Gonzales was in the
near vicinity with a little army of three hundred men,
two hundred of whom were Indians. In the darkness
of the night, Gonzales fell upon De Soto, and out¬
numbering him six to one, either killed or took cap¬
tive all the thirty footmen; while the cavaliers, on their
horses, cut their way through and escaped. Gon¬
zales lost fifty of his best men in the conflict, and
was so impressed with the military vigor of De Soto,
that he was not at all disposed again to meet him on
the field of battle. He therefore retired to a distant
i ►
part of the province, where he vigorously engaged in
the work of converting the natives, never forgetting
his baptismal fee.
De Soto and Cordova, established themselves in
a new town which they called Grenada. Here they
erected a church, several dwelling houses, and bar¬
racks for the soldiers. They also surrounded the vil-
4
58
DE SOTO.
3, as protection from
any sudden assault. Gonzales was a fugitive from
justice, having assassinated an officer-sent by Her¬
nando Cortes to arrest him.
Cordova was a mild and humane man. Under
nis sway the Indians were prosperous and happy.
Two' flourishing towns grew up rapidly quite near
each other, Leon and Grenada. The climate was
delightful, the soil fertile, the means of living abun¬
dant. Many of the inhabitants of Panama emigrated
to this more favored region.
De Soto, leaving Cordova in command of Nicara-
m
gua, returned to Panama to report proceedings to
Don Pedro. It was not till then that he learned, to
his extreme regret, that the Governor had selected
Nicaragua as a place for his future abode. He knew
that the presence of the tyrannical governor could
only prove disastrous to the flourishing colony, and
ruinous to the happiness of the natives. The gloom
with which the contemplation oppressed his mind
spread over his speaking countenance. The eagle
eye of the suspicious governor immediately detected
these indications of discontent. With an air of defer¬
ence, but in a tone of mockery, he said:
“ I judge from your appearance, captain, that my
Nicaraguan enterprise does not meet with your cor'
dial approbation.”
«
DEMONIAC REIGN.
59
De Soto boldly, and with great deliberation of
words, replied:
“ Governor Don Pedro, I confess that I feel but
little interested in any of your movements or inten¬
tions, except when they encroach upon the rights of
others. Nicaragua is at this time well governed by
Ferdinand de Cordova. The change you propose to
make, is to be deprecated as one of the greatest mis¬
fortunes that could befall not only the Indian inhabi¬
tants of that district, but our own countrymen like¬
wise, who have flocked thither to escape from your
jurisdiction.”
The countenance of Don Pedro became pallid
with rage. Struggling, however, to suppress the un¬
availing outburst of his passion, he said, with a ma¬
lignant smile :
“ I thank you, Captain De Soto, for giving me this
opportunity which I have so long desired. Were I
*
to permit such insolence to go unpunished, my au¬
thority in this colony would soon be at an end.”
“It is at an end,” replied De Soto. “You must
be aware that your successor, De Los Rios, is now
on his way to Panama.”
“ I do not choose,” replied Don Pedro, “ to debate
this matter \\ itli you. I still claim the right to com¬
mand you as your superior military officer. I now
command you to hold yourself and your company in
6o
DE SOTO.
readiness to march. When we arrive at Leon, 1
promise you that full justice shall be done to your
friend De Cordova, and to yourself.”
De Soto fully comprehended the significance of
these threats. He wrote immediately to Cordova,
urging him to be on his guard. The inhabitants of
Leon and Grenada, learning of the intention of Don
Pedro,—to take the government into his own hands,
entreated De Cordova to resist the tyrant, promis¬
ing him their unanimous and energetic support. But
De Cordova declined these overtures, saying, that all
the authority to which he was legitimately entitled
was derived from Don Pedro, and that it was his
*
%
duty to obey him as his superior officer, until he
should be deposed by the Spanish crown.
Just
for
■to
M
Spain. He
brought dispatches to the governor, and also secret
ly a letter from Isabella to De Soto. The spies of
the governor, in his castle in Spain, watched ever)
movement of M. Codro. The simple minded mar
had very little skill in the arts of duplicity. These
spies reported to Don Pedro that M. Codro had
held a secret interview with Isabella, and had frank¬
ly stated that he was entrusted with a private nics-
sage to her. Don Pedro knew that such a mes*
sage could have gone only from De Soto ; and that
DEMONIAC REIGN.
61
unquestionably M. Codro had brought back from his
daughter a response. We may remark in passing,
that the letter from Isabella to De Soto informed
him of the inflexible fidelity of Isabella, and filled the
heart of De Soto with joy.
The malignant nature of Don Pedro was roused
by these suspicions to intensity of action, and he re¬
solved upon direful revenge. As the new governor
was hourly expected, he could not venture upon any
open act of assassination or violence, for he knew
that in that case summary punishment would be his
doom.
M. Codro before him, he assumed
his blandest smile, thanked the artless philosopher
for the services he had rendered him in Spain, and
said that he wished to entrust him with the manage¬
ment of a mineralogical survey of a region near the
gulf of San Miguel.
The good man was delighted. This was just the
I
employment which his nature craved. He was di¬
rected to embark in a vessel commanded by one of
the governor’s tools, an infamous wretch by the
name of De Valenzuela. This man had been for
many years a private, and was then engaged in kid¬
napping Indians for the slave trade. He was order¬
ed as soon as the vessel was at sea, to chain M.
Codro to the foremast, to expose him to all the tor
tures of the blaze of a tropical sun by day and chil-
62
DE SOTO.
ling dews by night. The crew were enjoined to as¬
sail him with insulting mockery. Thus exposed to
hunger, burning heat, and incessant abuse, he was
to be kept through these lingering agonies until he
died.
For ten days the good man bore this cruel
martyrdom, when he breathed his last, and was
buried on a small island about a hundred miles
southwest of Panama. This brutal assassination was
so conducted, that De Soto at the- time had no
knowledge of the tragedy which was being enacted.
Early in the year 1526, Don Pedro, surrounded
by a large retinue of his obedient soldiery, left Pana*
ma to assume the government of Nicaragua, to which
he had no legitimate title. De Soto accomp ani ed
the governor. Much as he detested his character,
he could not forget that he was the father of Isa¬
bella. When Don Pedro approached the little town
of Leon, he sent a courier before him, to order De
Cordova to meet him in the public square, with his
municipal officers and his clergy, prepared to give
an account of his administration.
De Soto with his horsemen was ordered to form
in line on one side of the square. The foot soldiers
of Don Pedro surrounded the governor on the other
side. All the vacant space was filled with citizens
k
and natives. By the side of the governor stood his
DEMONIAC REIGN.
63
executioner; a man of gigantic stature and of hercu¬
lean strength, whose massive sword few arms but his
could wield. De Cordova advanced to meet Don Pe¬
dro, and bowing respectfully before him, commenced
giving an account of the state of affairs in the prov¬
ince. Suddenly he was interrupted in his narrative
by Don Pedro, who with forced anger exclaimed :
“ Silence, you hypocrite ! Your treasonable pro
jects cannot be hidden under these absurd preten¬
sions of loyalty and patriotism: I will now let your
accomplices see how'a traitor should be punished.”
He made a sign to his executioner. His gleam¬
ing sword flashed through the air, and in an instant
the dissevered head of Cordova rolled in the dust.
The headsman grasped the gory trophy by the hair,
and raising it high above his head exclaimed,
li Behold the doom of a traitor
All this took place in an instant. The specta¬
tors were horror stricken. De Soto instinctively seiz-
ed his sword, and would doubtless have put spurs to
his horse,' rushed upon the governor, and plunged
the weapon to the hilt in his breast, but for the re¬
straining memories of the past. Hesitatingly he
returned his sword to its scabbard.
ft
But Don Pedro had not yet finished the conteim
6 4
DE SOTO.
A *
plated work of the day. Another victim he had
doomed to fall. A file of soldiers, very resolute men,
led by a determined officer, crossing the square, ap¬
proached De Soto, at the head of his troops. Don
Pedro then exclaimed in a loud voice,
“ Ferdinand De Soto, you are ordered to dis-
*
mount and submit yourself to the punishment which
you have just seen inflicted on your traitorous com-
rade. Soldiers ! drag him from his horse if he refuse
to obey.”
The officer reached forth his hand to seize De
Soto. Like lightning’s flash, the sword of the cav¬
alier fell upon the officer, and his head was cleft from
crown to chin. The spurs were applied to the fiery
steed. He plunged through the soldiers, knocking
several of them down, and in an instant De Soto had
his sword’s point at the breast of the governor.
Shouts of “kill the tyrant,” rose from all parts of the
square, which were echoed even from the ranks of
Don Pedro’s soldiers. Again De Soto held back his
avenging hand ; but in words which made Don Pedro
quake in his shoes, he said,
“You hear the expression of public sentiment.
You hear the wishes of those who are subject to your
authority. It is the voice of justice speaking through
these people. In refusing to obey the call, I am
*
scarcely less guilty than yourself. But remember.
DEMONIAC REIGN.
<55
moment
Don Pedro, that in sparing your life at this
I discharge all the obligations I have owed you.
Miserable old man! Be thankful that the recollection
4
of one that is absent, can make me forget what I owe
to my murdered friend.
“ I will now sheathe my sword, but I solemnly de¬
clare by the sacred emblem of the cross which it
bears, that I will never draw it again in your ser¬
vice.
J)
The assassination, for it could hardly be called
execution, of De Cordova,- excited the general indig¬
nation of the Spanish settlers. They all knew that
Don Pedro had no authority from the king of Spain
to assume the government of Nicaragua, and that he
was therefore an usurper. The noble character which
De Soto had exhibited, and his undeniable ability and
bravery, had won for him universal regard. The Span¬
iards generally rallied around him, and entreated him
to assume the command, promising him their enthu¬
siastic support. They could not comprehend why De
*
Soto so persistently refused their solicitations. They
knew nothing of the secret reasons which rendered it
almost impossible for De Soto to draw his sword
against the father of Isabella.
As we have mentioned, it was generally supposed
I 1
that there must be some strait between the Isthmus
'‘Darien and the southern frontiers of Mexico, which
56
DE SOTO.
connected the waters of the Atlantic and Pacific
Oceans.
The king oi Spain had offered a large re¬
ward for the discovery of this passage. Several of the
wealthy citizens of Leon organized an expedition in
pursuit of this object. De Soto was placed at its
head. He selected, from his cavalry troop, five of his
most intelligent and energetic young men. They
started from Leon, and followed along the coast of
the Pacific, in northwesterly course, penetrating every
bay and inlet. They travelled on horseback and en¬
countered innumerable difficulties from the rugged
and pathless wilderness, through which they pressed
their way. They also had much to fear from the un¬
friendly character of the natives, whose hostility had
been aroused by the outrages which companies of
vagabond Spaniards had inflicted upon them.
De Soto, however, and his companions, by theii
just and kindly spirit, soon won the regards of the
Indians. They found that the natives possessed large
quantities of gold, which they seemed to esteem of
little value. Eagerly they exchanged the precious
metal for such trinkets as the explorers took with
them. Upon this arduous expedition, which De
Soto managed with consummate skill, he was absent
eleven months. Seven hundred miles of sea-coast
were carefully explored, and he became fully con¬
vinced that the looked-for strait did not exist
P
DEMONIAC REIGN,
67
Though in this respect the expedition had proved a
failure, he returned to Leon quite enriched by the
gold which he had gathered. With honesty, rarely
witnessed in those days, he impartially divided the
treasure among the projectors of the enterprise.
As De Soto was returning, he discovered a small
Spanish vessel anchored near the present site of
San Salvador. As his men and horses were worn
down by their fatiguing journey, he engaged a pas¬
sage in the vessel to Leon. Upon embarking he
found the captain and crew consisted of some of the
most depraved and brutal men who had ever visited
the New World. They were cruising along the
coast, watching for opportunity to kidnap the natives,
I
to convey them to the West Indies as slaves. The
captain was the infamous Valenzuela, who, as agent
of Don Pedro, had tortured M. Codro to death.
De Soto had no knowledge, as we have mentioned,
of the dreadful doom which had befallen his friend.
One day the fiendlike captain was amusing his crew
with a recital of his past deeds of villany. I-Ie told
the story of the murder of Codro.
“ He was,” he said, “ an old wizard whom Don
Pedro, the governor of Panama, commissioned me to
torture and to put to death, in consequence of some
treachery of which he had been guilty while on a
mission to Spain.
68
DE SOTO.
The words caught the ear of De Soto. He join¬
ed the group, and listened with breathless attention
and a throbbing heart, to the statement of Valen¬
zuela.
<c l chained the old fellow,” said the captain, ce to
the mainmast, and the sailors amused themselves by
drenching him with buckets of cold water, till he
was almost drowned. After several days, he became
so sick and exhausted, that we saw that our sport
would soon be at an end. For two days he
speechless. He then suddenly recovered the use of
his .voice, and endeavored to frighten me by saying:
“ Captain, your treatment has caused my death.
I now call upon you to hear the words of a dying
man. Within a year from this time, I summon you
to meet me before the judgment seat of God.”
Here the captain burst into a derisive and scorn¬
ful laugh. He then added :
“ Come comrades, we’ll have a hamper of wine,
and drink to the repose of M. Codro’s soul.”
De Soto stepped forward, and repressing all ex¬
ternal exhibition of the rage which consumed his
soul, said calmly to the captain
“You say that the astrologer prophesied that
you should die within the year. When will that year
expire ? ”
“ In about two weeks,” the captain replied. “ But
DEMONIAC REIGN. 69
I have no fear but that the prophet will prove to be
a liar.”
“ He shall not,” De Soto added. And drawing
from his scabbard his keen, glittering sword, with
one blow from his sinewy arm, severed the captain’s
head from his body. The ghastly trophy rolled
gushing with blood upon the deck. These wild and
savage men were accustomed to such scenes. They
admired the courage of De Soto, and the marvellous
skill with which, at one blow, he had struck off the
head of the captain. De Soto then turned to the
crowd and said:
“ Gentlemen, if any of you are disposed to hold
me accountable for what I have just done, I am ready
to answer you according to your desires. But I con¬
sider myself bound, in reason and in courtesy, to in¬
form you, that M. Codro, the man whom this villain
murdered, was my friend; and I doubt not that he
was condemned to death for doing me an important
service.”
All seemed satisfied with this explanation. These
sanguinary scenes in those days produced but a mo¬
mentary impression.
De Soto and Don Pedro no longer held any inter¬
course with each other. The reign of the usurping
governor was atrocious beyond the power of lan¬
guage to express. With horses and bloodhounds he
7 °
DE SOTO.
ran down the natives, seizing and selling them as
slaves. Droves of men, women and children, chained
together, were often driven into the streets of Leon.
The assumption then was that a nominal Christian
might pardonably inflict any outrages upon those who
had not accepted the Christian faith. Several of the
Indian chiefs had embraced Christianity. Don Pedro
compelled them all to pay him a tribute of fifty slaves
a month. All
were to be surrendered as
slaves. And then the wretch demanded that all
parents who had several children, should surrender
one or more, as slaves to the Spaniards. The natives
were robbed of their harvests, so that they had no
encouragement to cultivate the soil. This led to
famine, and more than twenty thousand perished of
starvation. Famine introduced pestilence. The good
Las Casas declares that in consequence of the oppres¬
sions of the Spaniards, in ten years, more than sixty
thousand of the natives of Nicaragua perished.
About this time Francisco Pizarro had embarked
in a hair-brained enterprise for the conquest of Peru,
on the western coast of South America. Very slowly
he had forced his way along, towards that vast empire,
encountering innumerable difficulties, and enduring
frightful sufferings, until he had reached a point where
his progress seemed to be arrested. His army w as
greatly weakened, and he had not sufficient force to
DEMONIAC REIGN. fl
A
push his conquests any farther. Threatened with the
utter extermination of his band, he remembered De
Soto, whom he had never loved. He knew that he
was anxious for fame and fortune, and thought that
j
t
his bravery and great military ability might extricate
him from his embarrassments.
He therefore wrote to Don Pedro, praying that
De Soto, with reinforcements, might be sent to his aid.
For three years there had been no communication
whatever between the governor and the lover of his
daughter. But Don Pedro regarded the adventure of
Pizarro as hazardous in the extreme, and felt sure
a " *
that all engaged in the enterprise would miserably
perish. Eagerly he caught at the idea of sending De
Soto to join them ; for his presence was to Don Pedro
a constant source of annoyance and dread. He there¬
fore caused the communication from Pizarro to be
conveyed to De Soto, saying to the messenger who
bore it:
“ Urge De Soto to depart immediately for Peru.
And I pray Heaven that we may never hear of him
again.”
De Soto, not knowing what to do with himself, im¬
prudently consented, and thus allied his fortunes with
those of one of the greatest villains of any age oi
country.
CHAPTER V.
The Invasion of Peru .
The Kingdom of Peru.—Its Metropolis.—The Desperate Condition
of Pizarro.—Arrival of De Soto.—Character of the Spaniards*—
Exploring tour of De Soto.—The Colony at San Miguel.—The
General Advance.—Second Exploration of De Soto.—Infamous
Conduct of the Pizarros.
m
The kingdom of Peru, skirting the western coast
of South America, between the majestic peaks of the
Andes and the mirrored waters of the Pacific Ocean,
was one of the most beautiful countries in the world.
This kingdom, diversified with every variety of scen¬
ery, both of the sublime and the beautiful, and enjoy¬
ing a delicious climate, was about eighteen hundred
miles in length and one hundred and fifty in breadth.
The natives had attained a high degree of civilization.
Though gunpowder, steel armor, war horses, and
blood-hounds gave the barbarian Spaniards the su¬
premacy on fields of blood, the leading men, among
the Peruvians, seem to have been in intelligence, hu¬
manity and every virtue, far superior to the savage
. %
leaders of the Spaniards, who so ruthlessly invaded
their peaceful realms.
THE INVASION OF PERU,
The metropolis of the empire was the city of
Cuzo, which was situated in a soft and luxuriant val¬
ley traversing some table-lands which were about
twelve thousand feet above the level of the sea. The
government of the country was
an absolute mon
archy. But its sovereign, called the Inca, seems to
have been truly a good man, the father of his people;
wisely and successfully seeking their welfare. The
Peruvians had attained a degree of excellence in
many of the arts unsurpassed by the Spaniards.
Their houses were generally built of stone ; theii
.massive temples, though devoid of architectural beau¬
ty, were constructed of hewn blocks of granite, so ad¬
mirably joined together that the seams could be with
difficulty discerned.
Humbolt found, among the ruins of these temples,
blocks of hewn stone thirty-six feet long, nine feet
wide, and six feet in thickness. Their great high¬
ways, spanning the gulfs, clinging to the precipitous
cliffs and climbing the mountains, were wonderful
works of mechanical skill.
De Soto was thoroughly acquainted with the
cruel, faithless, and treacherous character of Pizarro.
A stiama must eve
: rest upon his name, for cons
ing to enter into any .expedition under the leadership
of such a man. It may however be said, in reply,
that he had no intention of obeying Pizarro in any
4
74
DE SOTO.
thing that was wrong; that his love of adventure was
roused by the desire to explore one of the most mag¬
nificent empires in the New World, which rumor had
%
invested with wealth and splendor surpassing the
dreams of romance. And perhaps, most important
of all, he hoped honestly to be able to gather from
the fabled mines of gold, with which Peru was said
%
to he filled, that wealth with which he would be en¬
abled to return to Spain and claim the hand, as he
had already won the heart, of the fair and faithful
Isabella.
Pizarro had entered upon his enterprise with an
army of one hundred and eighty men, twenty-seven
of whom were mounted. It seems to be the uncon-
tradicted testimony of contemporary historians, that
this army was composed of as worthless a set of vag¬
abonds as ever disgraced humanity. There was no
crime or cruelty from which these fiends in human
form would recoil.
Pizarro, following down the western coast of
South America five or six hundred miles, had reach¬
ed the island of Puna, in the extreme northern part
of Peru. It was separated from the mainland by a
narrow strait. The inhabitants received him cor¬
dially, but the murders, rapine and other nameless
atrocities, perpetrated by the Spaniards upon the
friendly natives, soon so aroused their resentment
J
THE INVASION OF PERU. 75
that a conspiracy was formed for the entire exterm¬
ination of the invaders. The expedition had become
so weakened and demoralized that even Pizarro saw
that it would be the height of imprudence for him to
venture, with his vile crew, upon the mainland, be-
j
fore reinforcements under some degree of military
discipline should arrive. He was in this precarious
condition, and on the eve of extermination, when De
Soto and his select and well-ordered troops reached
the island.
T
They came in two vessels, bringing with them an
abundant supply of arms and ammunition. The party
consisted of fifty men, thoroughly equipped. Thirty
of them were steel-clad cavaliers, well mounted.
De Soto had been offered the rank of second in
command. But when he arrived at Puna, he found
that Pizarro’s brother — Hernando — occupied this
post, and that he had no intention of relinquishing it.
De Soto reproached Pizarro in very plain terms for
this wrong and insult. Pie however did not allow it
long to trouble him. Surrounded by his own brave
and devoted followers, he felt quite independent of
the authority of Pizarro, and had no intention of
obeying him any farther than might be in accordance
with his own wishes.
4
On the other nand, Pizarro had but little confi-
v
dence in his brother, and was fully conscious that the
DE som
With
76
success of his enterprise would be mainly dependent
upon the energy and skill of De Soto.
Pizarro,now finding himself at the head of really a
formidable force, prepared to pass over to the main¬
land. There was quite a large town there called
Tumbez, surrounded by a rich and densely populat¬
ed country. The Peruvians had gold in abundance,
and weapons and utensils of copper,
steel, they were entirely unacquainted. As when
fighting at a distance, the bullet of the Spaniard was
M
immeasurably superior to the arrow of the native, so
in a hand to hand fight, the keen and glittering sabre
of steel, especially in the hands of steel-clad cava¬
liers left the poorly armed Peruvians almost entirely
1
at their mercy.
Arrangements were made to cross the strait and
make a descent upon Tumbez. Pizarro had already
visited the place, where he had been kindly received
by the inhabitants, and where he had seen with his
own eyes that the houses and temples were dec¬
orated with golden ornaments, often massive in
weight, and of almost priceless value. He.floated
his little band across the narrow strait on rafts.
The inhabitants of Tumbez and its vicinity had
been disposed to receive their Spanish visitors as
guests, and to treat them with the utmost courtesy
and kindness.
them
THE INVASION OF PERU.
the terrible outrages which they had inflicted upon
the inhabitants of Puna. They therefore attacked
the Spaniards as they approached the shore on their
rafts and endeavored to prevent their landing. But
the invaders, with musketry and a cannon which they
had with them, speedily drove off their assailants, and
with horses and hounds planted their banners upon
the shore. They then marched directly upon Turn
bez, confident of gathering, from the decorations of
her palaces and her temples, abounding wealth. Bit
ter was their disappointment. The Peruvians, con¬
scious of their probable inability to resist the invaders,
had generally abandoned the city, carrying with them,
far away into the mountains, all their treasures.
The Spaniards, who had entered the city with
i
hideous yells of triumph, being thus frustrated in the
main object of their expedition, found, by inquiry,
that at the distance of several leagues easterly from
the sea-coast, among the pleasant valleys of the moun¬
tains, there were populous cities, where abundance
of booty might be found.
The whole number of Spaniards, then invading
Peru, did not exceed two hundred and fifty. The
Peruvians were daily becoming more deeply exas¬
perated. With such a number of men, and no forti¬
fied base to fall back upon, Pizarro did not deem it
uafe to enter upon a plundering tour into the interior
78
DE SOTO.
Keeping therefore about one hundred and thirty
men with him, and strongly fortifying himself at
Tumbez, he sent De Soto, at the head of eighty men,
sixty of whom were mounted, back into the moun¬
tains, to search for gold, and to report respecting the
condition of the country, in preparation for future ex¬
peditions.
The bad fame of Pizarro was spreading far and
wide. And though De Soto enjoined it strictly
upon his men, not to be guilty of any act of injustice,
still he was an invading Spaniard, and the Peruvians
regarded them all as the shepherd regards the wolf.
De Soto had passed but a few leagues from the sea¬
shore, ere he entered upon the hilly country. As he
was ascending one of the gentle eminences, a band
of two thousand Indians, who had met there to arrest
his progress, rushed down upon him. HiS' sixty
horsemen instantly formed in column and impet¬
uously charged into their crowded ranks. These
Peruvians had never seen a horse before. Their
arrows glanced harmless from the impenetrable
armor, and they were mercilessly cut down and
trampled beneath iron hoofs. The Spaniards gallop¬
ed through and through their ranks, strewing the
ground with the dead. The carnage was of short
duration. The panic-stricken Peruvians fled where-
ever there was a possibility of escape.
The crumpets
THE INVASION OF PERU.
of the conquerors pealed forth their triumphant
strains. The silken banners waved proudly in the
breeze, and the victors exultingly continued their
mountains
Whatever excuses De Soto may make for him self,
humanity will never forgive him for the carnage of
this
that day. Having thus fairly embarked upon
enterprise, where he was surely gaining military re¬
nown, infamous as it was, and where there was the
prospect before him of plunder of incalculable worth,
De
own
responsibility, and to have paid very little regard to
the authority of Pizarro, whom he had left behind.
He had already penetrated the country much farther
than he had been authorized to do by the orders of his
superior. One of the men, whom Pizarro had sent
with him, very probably as a spy upon his movements,
deserted, and returned to Tumbez with the report
that De Soto was already practically in revolt, and
had renounced all dependence on Pizarro. For this
4
alleged insubordination, Pizarro did not venture to
call his energetic lieutenant to account.
J
In the mean time, Pizarro was exploring the coun¬
try in the vicinity of Tumbez, for the site of the colo¬
ny he wished to establish. He selected a position
about ninety miles south of that city, in a rich and
well-watered valley which opened upon the placid
So
DE SOTO.
surface of the Pacific. His troops were transported
to the spot by the two vessels. Here he laid the
foundations of a town, which he called San Miguel.
With timber from the mountains, and stone from the
quarries, and the labor of a large number of natives,
who were driven to daily toil, not as servants, by the
stimulus of well-paid labor, but as slaves, goaded by
the sabres of their task masters, quite a large and
strongly-fortified town rapidly arose.
De Soto continued his explorations in the interior
for some time, and discovered a very magnificent
highway, leading to the capital of the empire. It
was smoothly paved with fiat blocks of stone, or with
cement harder than stone. He returned to San
Miguel with the report of his discoveries, and quite
richly laden with the gold which he had received as a
present from the natives, or which he had seized as
what he considered the lawful spoils of war. The
sight of the gold inspired all the Spaniards at San
Miguel with the intense desire to press forward into
a field which promised so rich a harvest.
It was ascertained that the Inca had command of
an army of over fifty thousand men. Pizarro,leaving
sixty men in garrison at San Miguel, set out with one
hundred and ninety men to visit the Inca in his capi¬
tal. De Soto accompanied him. It was not ostensi¬
bly a military expedition, seeking the conquest ef the
THE INVASION OF PERU.
8r
country, or moving with any hostile intent whatever.
De Soto had a conscience; Pizarro had none. What-
1
ever reproaches might arise in the mind of De Soto
in reference to the course he was pursuing, he si¬
lenced them by the very plausible assumption that
he was an ambassador from the king of Spain, com¬
missioned to make a friendly visit to the monarch of
another newly-discovered empire; that he was the
messenger of peace seeking to unite the two king¬
doms in friendly relations with each other for their
mutual benefit. This was probably the real feeling
of De Soto. The expedition was commissioned by
r
the king of Spain. The armed retinue was only
such as became the ambassadors of a great monarch.
I 4
Such an expedition was in every respect desirable.
.The fault—perhaps we ought in candor to say the ca¬
lamity-—of De Soto was in allowing himself to be at¬
tached to an expedition under a man so thoroughly
reckless and unprincipled as he knew Pizarro to
have been. Perhaps he hoped to control the actions
of his ignorant and fanatic superior officer. It is
quite manifest that De Soto did exert a very powerful
influence in giving shape to the expedition.
An Indian courier was sent forward to Cuzco,
one of the capitals of the Peruvian monarch, with
a friendly and almost an obsequious message to the
Inca, whose name was Attahuallapa. The courier
4 *
82
DE SOTO.'
bore the communication that Pizarro was an am¬
bassador commissioned by the king of Spain to visit
the king of Peru, and to kiss his hand in token of
peace and fraternity. He therefore solicited that
protection in passing through the country which every
monarch is bound to render to the representatives of
a foreign and friendly power.
Pizarro, as it will be remembered, was a rough
and illiterate soldier, unable either to read or write.
In this sagacious diplomatic arrangement, we un¬
doubtedly see the movement of De Soto’s reflective
and cultivated mind. The expedition moved slowly
along, awaiting the return of the courier. He soon
came back with a very indefinite response, and with a
present of two curiously carved stone cups, and some
perfumery. The guarded reply and the meagre pres¬
ent excited some alarm in the Spanish camp. It
was very evident that the expedition was not to antic¬
ipate a very cordial reception at the Peruvian court.
Pizarro was much alarmed. He was quite confident
that the Inca was trying to lure them on to their
rum.
Plaving called a council of war, he urged that
they should proceed no farther until he had sent
some faithful Indian spies to ascertain the intentions
of Attahuailapa.
M
But De Soto, whose youthful energies were in*
THE INVASION OF PERU. 83
spired by love and ambition, was eager to press for¬
ward.
“It is not necessary,” said he, “for the Inca to
•. • . a i
use treachery with us. He could easily overpower
us with numbers were he so. disposed. We have also
heard that he is a just and merciful prince; and the
courtesy he has already shown us, is some token at
least of his good will. But why should we hesitate ?
We have no longer any choice but to go forward. If
we now retreat, it will prove our professions to be
false ; and when the suspicions of the Inca are once
aroused, we shall find it impossible to escape from his
country.”
Pizarro’s brother—Hernando—was a man of ig¬
noble birth, of ruffianly manners, of low and brutal
character. Tauntingly he inquired of De Soto, if he
were ready to give proof of his confidence in the faith
of the Peruvian monarch, by going forward to his
court, as an envoy from the embassy.
De Soto turned his keen and flashing eye upon
the man, whom he despised, and said in slow and
<
measured words :
Hernando
is neither civil nor safe to call my sincerity in ques
tion. I have as much confidence in the honor of the
Inca as I have in the integrity of any man in this
company, not excepting the commander or yourself
84
DE SOTO.
I perceive that you are disposed to go backward.
You
main
where you are. But I have m ade up my mind
to present myself to Attahuallapa. And I shall cer¬
tainly do so, without asking the assistance or permis¬
sion of any of your party.”
This was certainly a very defiant speech. It as¬
serted his entire rejection of the authority of Pizarro.
De Soto could not have dared thus to have spoken,
unless he had felt strong in the support of his own
dragoons.
Hernando Pizarro was silent, indulging only in a
malignant smile. It was not safe for him to provoke
De Soto to a personal rencontre. Francisco Pizarro
smothered his chagrin and very adroitly availed him¬
self of this statement, to commission De Soto to take
twenty-four horsemen, such as he might select, and
accompanied by an Indian guide called Filipillo, go
forward to the Peruvian court.
Both of the Pizarros seemed quite relieved when
the sound of the departing squadron of brave cava¬
liers died away in the distance. De Soto, during the
whole of his adventurous life, seems to have been
entirely unconscious of the emotion of fear., Dur-
4 * I 1
ing his residence in the camp of the Pizarros, he
had exerted a powerful restraint upon their ferocious
natures.
very
THE INVASION OF PERU
85
*
4
press their minds with the conviction that they could
not pass
, or even
• ' .... 1
remain in it, if their followers were allowed to trample
*t • • • • •
. So earnestly and
views, that Pizarro at
length acknowledged their truth, and in the presence
of De Soto, commanded his men to abstain from
W
every act of aggression.
But now that De Soto was gone, the Pizarros and
their rabble rout of vagabonds breathed more freely.
Scarcely had the plumed helmets of the cavaliers
disappeared in the distance, when Hernando Pizarro
set out on a plundering expedition into the villages
of the Peruvians. The natives fled in terror before
the Spaniards. Pizarro caught one of the leading men
and questioned him very closely respecting the de¬
signs of Attahuallapa. The captive honestly and
earnestly declared, that he knew nothing about the
plans of his sovereign.
* *
This demoniac Hernando endeavored to extort a
confession from him by torture. Pie tied his victim
to a tree, enveloped his feet in cotton thoroughly
saturated with oil and applied the torch.
wretched sufferer in unendurable agony, said ce yes” to
anything and everything. Two days after,
proved that he could not have known anything re¬
specting the intended operations of the Inca. It is
The
it was
86
DE SOTO.
a satisfaction to one’s sense of justice to remember
that there is a God who will not allow such crimes to
go unpunished.
De Soto, with his bold cavaliers, pressed rapidly
on towards the Peruvian camp. Very carefully he
7
guarded against every act of hostility or injustice.
Everywhere the natives were treated with the ut*
most courtesy. In the rapid advance of the Span¬
iards through the country, crowds flocked to the high¬
way attracted by the novel spectacle. And a won¬
derful
These cavaliers,
with their nodding plumes, their burnished armor,
their gleaming sabres, their silken banners, mounted
on magnificent war horses and rushing along over
the hills and through the valleys in meteoric splendor,
i
must have presented an aspect more imposing to
their minds than vve can well imagine.
De Soto, who had not his superior as a horseman
in the Spanish army, was mounted on a milk white
steed of extraordinary size and grace of figure, and
wore a complete suit of the most costly and showy
It is said that on one occasion his path was
armor,
The noble
crossed by a brook twenty feet wide,
animal disdained to wade through, but cleared it at a
single bound.
o
The crow
seemed to
eelings De
THE INVASION OF PERU. 87
4
Soto manifested in gracefully bowing to them and
' $f' * " '
smiling as he passed along. He soon ascertained,
*
though his guide Filipillo, that the head-quarters of
the Peruvian camp was at a place now called Caxa-
marca, among the mountains, about eighty miles
northeast of the present seaport of Truxillo.
After a rapid ride of about six hours, the expedi¬
tion approached quite a flourishing little town called
Caxas. Several hundred Peruvian soldiers were
drawn up in battle array in the outskirts, to arrest
the progress of the Spaniards. De Soto halted his
dragoons, and sent forward Filipillo to assure the
commandant that he was traversing the country not
with any hostile intent, and that he bore a friendly
f
message from his own sovereign to the king of Peru.
laid
aside their arms, welcomed the strangers, and enter¬
tained them with a sumptuous feast. Thus refresh¬
ed, they pressed on several leagues farther, until they
reached a much larger city called Guancabama.
From all the accounts given it would seem that the
inhabitants of this region had reached a degree of
civilization, so far as the comforts of life are concern¬
ed, fully equal to that then to be found in Spain.
This city was on the magnificent highway which
traversed fifteen hundred miles through the very
i
heart of the empire. The houses, which were built
The kindly disposed Peruvians immediate
88
DE SOTO.
of hewn stone, admirably j ointed, consisted of several
rooms, and were distinguished for cleanliness, order,
and domestic comfort.
W
.. k
The men seemed intelligent, the women modest,
and various arts of industry occupied their time. De
Soto testified that the great highway which passed
through this place far surpassed in grandeur and
utility any public work which had ever been attempt¬
ed in Spain. Happy and prosperous as were the Pe¬
ruvians, compared with the inhabitants of most other
countries, it is quite evident that the ravages of the
Fall were not unknown there.
Just before entering the town, De Soto passed a
high gibbet upon which three malefactors were hung
in chains, swaying in the breeze. That revolting
spectacle revealed the sad truth that in Peru, as well
1
as elsewhere, man’s fallen nature developed itself in
crime and woe. The Emperor had also a large stand¬
ing army, and the country had just been ravaged by
the horrors of civil war.
j
De Soto was kindly received at Guancabama.
as he was about to leave for Caxamarca, an en-
Just
city
ambassador
Spanish camp.
/•/ •.
rank. Several servants accompanied him, laden wit!
presents for Pizarro. He
urn
with him to the head-quarters of the
THE INVASION OF PERU. 89
A.s these presents and this embassy would probably
convince Pizarro. of the friendly feeling of the Peru¬
vian monarch, De Soto judged it wise to comply
with his request. Thus he tarred back, and the
, / • a
united party soon reached Pizarro’s encampment.
CHAPTER vT
The Atrocities of Pizam.
* V
Fears of Pizarro.—Honorable Conduct of the Inca.—The March
Caxamarca.—Hospitable Reception.—Perfidious Attack upon the
Inca.—His Capture and Imprisonment.—The Honor of De Soto.
—The Offered Ransom.—Treachery and Extortion of Pizarro.
The report which De Soto brought back was
in many respects quite alarming to the Pizarros.
Though they were delighted to hear of the wealth
which had been discovered, and the golden ornaments
decorating houses, temples and shrines, they were
not a little alarmed in the contemplation of the large
population over which the Inca reigned, and of the
power of his government. The spectacle of the gal¬
lows also at Guancabama, caused very uncomfortable
sensations.
Both of these men were aware that they and their
troops had committed crimes which would doom them
to the scaffold, should the Inca be able to punish them
according to their deserts. Indeed it subsequently
appeared, that the Inca had heard of their outrages.
But with humanity and a sense of justice which re-
fleets lustre upon his name, he bad resolved not to
TIIE ATROCITIES OF PIZARRO.
91
punish them unheard in their own defence. He knew
not but that false representations had been made of
the facts. He knew not but that the Spaniards had
been goaded to acts of retaliation by outrages on
the part of the Peruvians.
Pie therefore invited the Spanish adventurers to
meet him at Caxamarca,. assuring them of a safe pass¬
age to that place. With fear and trembling Pizarro
consented, with his little band of two hundred and
fifty men, to visit the Peruvian camp, where fifty
thousand soldiers might be arrayed against him. The
path they were to traverse led through defiles of the
ft
mountains, where a few hundred men could arrest the
march of an army. The Spaniards afterwards could
not but admit, that had the Inca cherished any per¬
fidious design, he might with the utmost ease' have
utterly exterminated them. N ot a man could have
escaped.
The march of these trembling men was not with
the triumphant tramp of conquerors. They did not
enter the Peruvian camp with flourish of trumpets
and bugle blasts, but as peaceful ambassadors, with
a showy retinue, who had been permitted to traverse
the country unharmed. ^ The sun was just sinking
behind the rugged peaks of the mountains on the fif¬
teenth of November, 1532, when Pizarro’s band rode
into the streets of Caxamarca. In the centre of the
DE SOTO.
92
town there was a large public square. On one side
of that square was a spacious stone edifice, which the
Inca had caused to be prepared for the accommoda¬
tion of his guests. This building was a part of a
strong fortress, within whose massive walls, a small
party of well anned men might easily defend them¬
selves against a host.
The fact that Attahuallapa assigned to them such
quarters, proves conclusively that he had no intention
to treat them otherwise than in the most friendly
manner. The Inca, with the troops immediately
under his command, was encamped at a distance of
about three miles from the town. The treacherous
Pizarro was ever apprehensive of treachery on the
part of others. He was an entire stranger to that
calm and peaceful courage which seemed always to
reign in the bosom of De Soto.
Immediately after he reached Caxamarca he dis¬
patched De Soto to inform the Inca of his arrival.
The Peruvian camp covered several acres of ground,
with substantial and commodious tents. In the cen¬
tre there was tr uly a magnificent pavilion, gorgeous
in its decorations, which was appropriated to the
Inca. Attahuallapa was informed of the approach of
the Spanish cavaliers. He came from his tent and
took his seat upon a splendid throne prepared for the
occasion. The Peruvian soldiers gazed with amaze*
fHE ATROCITIES OF PIZARRO.
ment upon the spectacle of these horsemen as they
were led into the presence of their sovereign.
De Soto, with the native grace which attended all
his actions, alighted from his horse, bowed respectful¬
ly to the monarch, and said in words which were inter¬
preted by Filipillo.
“ I am sent by my commander, Don Francisco Pi-
zarro, who desires to be admitted to your presence, to
give you an account of the causes which have brought
behoove your majesty to know. He
may
interview
as he wishes to make you an offer of his services,
and to deliver the message which has been commit¬
ted to him by his sovereign, the king of Spain.”
Attahuallapa replied with much dignity and some
apparent reserve, that he cordially accepted tht
friendly offers of Pizarro, and would grant him the
desired interview the following morning. The Inca
was a young man about thirty years of age. He was
tall, admirably formed, and with a very handsome
countenance. But there was an expression of sad¬
ness overspreading his features, and a pensive tone
in his address, indicating that he was a man who had
seen affliction.
The splendid steed from which De Soto had
alighted was restlessly pawing the ground at a short
94
DE SOTO.
distance from the tent of the Inca, attracting the par¬
ticular attention and admiration of the sovereign. De
Soto, perceiving the admiration which his steed elic¬
ited, remounted, and touching the spirited animal
t
with the spur, went bounding with almost the speed
of the wind over the level plain, causing his horse
k
now to rear, and now to plunge, wheeling him
around, and thus exhibiting his excellent qualities,
lie then came down at full speed to the spot where
the Inca stood, until within a few feet of the monarch,
when he checked his horse so suddenly as to throw
him back upon his haunches. Some of the attendants
of the Inca were evidently alarmed; but the Inca
himself stood proudly immovable. He reproved his
attendants for their timidity; and Mr. Prescott, who
represents Atthuallapa as a very cruel man, intimates
that he put some of them to death that evening for
betraying such weakness before the strangers. Re¬
freshments were offered to De Soto and his party,
and a sort of wine was presented to them in golden
cups, of extraordinary size.
As De Soto, having fulfilled his mission, was
about to leave the royal presence and return to Cax-
amarca, Attahuallapa said:
“Tell your companions, that as I am keeping a -
fast, I cannot to-day accept their invitation. I will
come to them to-morrow. I may be attended by a
THE ATROCITIES OF PIlARRO.
95
large
But let not that give you
any uneasiness. I wish to cultivate your friendship
and that of your king. I have already given ample
proof that no harm is intended you, though your
captain, I am told, mistrusts me. If you think it will
please him better, I
and those unarmed.”
attendants
&
De Soto warmly assured the Inca that no man
could doubt his sincerity, and begged him to consult
his own taste entirely in reference to the manner in
which he would approach the Spaniards.
Upon the return of the cavalier to Pizarro, with
an account of the interview, that perfidious chieftain
proposed to his men, that they should seize the Inca
and hold him in captivity as a hostage. Mr. Pres¬
cott, in his account of this infamous procedure,
speaks of it in the following apologetic terms :
n
“ Pizarro then summoned a council of his officers,
*
to consider the plan of operations, or rather to pro¬
pose to them the extraordinary plan on which he had
himself decided. This was to lay an ambuscade for
the Inca, and take him prisoner in the face of his
whole army. It was a project full of peril, bordering as
it might well seem on desperation. But the circum-
*
stances of the Spaniards were desperate. Whichever
way they turned they were menaced by the most ap¬
palling dangers. And better was it to confront the
q5 DE SOTO.
danger, than weakly to shrink from it when there
was no avenue for escape. To fly was now too late.
Whither
At
the whole army of the Inca would be upon them.
Their movements would be anticipated by a foe far
better acquainted with the intricacies of the Sierra
than themselves ; the passes would be occupied, and
they would be hemmed in on all sides ; while the
mere fact of this retrograde movement would dimin¬
ish the confidence and with it the effective strength
of his own men, while it doubled that of the enemy.”
The next morning was Saturday, the 16th of No¬
vember, 1532. The sun rose in a cloudless sky, and
great preparations were made by the Inca to display
his grandeur and his power to his not very welcome
guests.
A
monarch, while a courier was sent forward to inform
Pizarro of his approach. The Inca, habited in a dress
which was glittering with gems and gold, was seated
in. a gorgeous open palanquin, borne upon the shoul¬
ders of many of his nobles.
It was five o’clock in the afternoon, when the
Inca, accompanied by a small' but unarmed retinue,
entered the public square of the city. The tents of
his troops left outside, spread far and wide over the
meadows, indicating the presence of an immense
host. The Inca was clothed in a flowing robe of
4
THE ATROCITIES OF PIZARRO.
97
scarlet, woven of the finest wool, and almost entirely
covered with golden stars and the most precious
gems
His
gated colors, to which there was suspended a scarlet
fringe, the badge of royalty. The palanquin, or
throne, on which he was seated, was apparently of
pure gold; and the cushion upon which he sat was
covered with the most costly gems. His nobles were
also dressed in the highest possible style of Peruvian
wealth and art. It was estimated that the number
of the nobles and officers of the court who accompa¬
nied the king into the square, was about two thou¬
sand. A large company of priests was also in attend¬
ance, who chanted the Peruvian National Hymn.
It is very difficult for an honest mind to form any
just conception of such a religious fanatic, and such
an irreligious wretch as this Francisco Pizarro. Just
before the Peruvians arrived he had attended a sol
emn mass, in which the aid of the God of the Chris
tians was fervently implored in behalf of their enter
prise. The mass was closed with chanting one of
the psalms of David, in which God is called upon to
arise and come to judgment. Friar Vincent, who
was Pizarro’s spiritual adviser, and grand chaplain of
the so-called Christian army, was then sent forward
with the Bible in one hand and a crucifix in the other
to expound to the Inca the doctrines of the Christian
5
98
BE SOTO.
faith, stating that it was for that purpose, and for that
only, that the Spaniards had come into the country.
So far as we can judge from the uncertain records
which have reached us, the views he presented were
what are called evangelical, though highly imbued
with the claims of the Papal Church. He described
the creation of man, his fall, the atonement by the
crucifixion of the Son of God, his ascension, leaving
Peter and his successors, as his vicegerents upon
earth. Invested with this divine power, one of his
successors, the present Pope, had commissioned
Pizarro to visit Peru, to conquer and convert the
natives to the true faith.
The Inca listened attentively to the arguments of
the priest, but was apparently unmoved by them.
He calmly replied :
“ I acknowledge that there is but one God, the
maker of all things. As for the Pope, I know him
not. He must be insane to give away that which
does not belong to him. The king of Spain is doubt¬
less a great monarch, and I wish to make him my
friend, but I cannot become his vassal.”
A few more words were interchanged, when the
priest returned into the stone fortress, where Pizarro
stood surrounded by his soldiers. The priest reported
the conversation which had taken place ; declared
that the Inca ; in the pride of his heart, had rejected
THE ATROCITIES OF PIZARRO.
99
Chi istianity. He therefore announced to Pizarro
that he was authorized by the divine law, to make
war upon the Inca and his people.
“ Go set on them at once,” said he; “ spare them
9
not; kill these dogs which so stubbornly despise the
law of God. I absolve you.”
The extraordinary scene which then ensued can¬
not perhaps be better described than in the language
of Mr. Prescott:
r
“ Pizarro saw that the hour had come. He waved
a white scarf in the air, the appointed signal. The
fatal gun was fired from the fortress. Then spring-
i
ing into the square, the Spanish captain and his fol¬
lowers shouted the old war cry of * St, Jago, and at
them ! ’ It was answered by the battle cry of every
Spaniard in the city, as rushing from the avenues of
the great halls in which they were concealed, they
poured into the Plaza, horse and foot, and threw
themselves into the midst of the Indian crowd.
“The latter, taken by surprise, stunned by the
reports of artillery and musketry, the echoes of which
reverberated like thunder from the surrounding build¬
ings, and blinded by the smoke which rolled in sul¬
phurous volumes along the square, were seized with
a panic. They knew not whither to fly for refuge
from the coming ruin. Nobles and commoners all
were trampled down under the fierce charge of the
IOO
DE SOTO.
cavalry, who dealt their blows 1 ight and left, without
• while their swords, flashing thiough the
thick gloom, carried dismay into the hearts of the
wretched natives, who now, for the first time, saw the
horse and his rider in all their terrors. They made
no resistance, as indeed they had no weapons with
which to resist.
u fr.vp.ry avenue to escape was closed, for the
entrance to the square was choked up with the dead
TWhVe nf mp-n who had oerished in vain efforts to fly.
And such was the agony of the survivors, under the
terrible pressure of their assailants, that a large body
of Indians, by their convulsive struggles, burst
through the wall of stone and dried clay, which
formed the boundary of the Plaza. It fell, leaving an
opening of more than a hundred paces, through
which multitudes now found their way into the coun-
who, leaping
the piles of rubbish, hung on the rear of the fugitives,
striking them down in all directions.”
“ There were two great objects in view in this mas¬
sacre. One was to strike terror into the heart of
the Peruvians ; the other was to obtain possession
of the person of the Inca. It seems that the nobles
regarded their sovereign with almost idolatrous hom¬
age. They rallied thickly around him, placed their
own bodies between him and the sabres of their
try, still hotly pursued by the cavalry
'I
THE ATROCITIES OF PIZARRO.
IOI
assailants, and made frantic endeavors to tear the
cavaliers from their saddles.
Unfortunately they
were unarmed, and had neither arrows, javelins nor
war clubs. The Inca sat helpless in his palan-'
quin, quite bewildered by the awful storm of war
which had thus suddenly burst around him. In the
swaying of the mighty mass, the litter heaved to and
fro, like a ship in a storm.”
At length several of the nobles who sup¬
ported it being slain, the palanquin was over¬
thrown, and the Inca, as he was falling to the
4
-ground, was caught by the Spaniards. In the
*
confusion of the affray, Pizarro was slightly wounded
in the hand by one of his own men. This was the
only hurt received by any Spaniard during the bloody
The Inca being captured, the conflict in the
square ceased. But there was another object in
view, as has been stated, and that was to strike ter¬
ror into the hearts of the Peruvians. Consequently
the steel-clad cavaliers pursued the fugitives in all
t
directions, cutting them down without mercy. Night,
J
which followed the short twilight of the tropics, put an
end to the carnage, and the trumpets of Pizarro
recalled the soldiers, wiping their dripping sabres, to
their fortress. The number slain is variously esti¬
mated. The secretary of Pizarro savs that two thou-
1
102
DE SOTO.
Pizarro treated the unhappy king with
sand fell. A Peruvian annalist swells the number of
victims to ten thousand.
Attahuallapa, the monarch of the great kingdom
of Peru, thus suddenly found himself a prisoner in
one of his own fortresses ; surrounded by a band of
stern warriors, who had penetrated the heart of his
empire from a distance of more than two thousand
leagues.
respect, and testifies to the dignity with which he
met his awful reverses. What part De Soto took in
the outrages just described, cannot now be known.
He had unquestionably in good faith, and as an hon¬
orable man, invited the Inca to visit Caxamarca, by
which invitation he had been enticed into the power
of the Spaniards.
There is evidence that De Soto had no idea ot
the treachery which was intended, for it was not
until after he had left on his visit to the Peruvian
camp that the plot was formed for the seizure of the
Inca. Pizarro had two bodies of horsemen,
was commanded bv his brother Hernando, a
One
t
other by De Soto. There were thirty dragoons in
each band. Unquestionably, Hernando was a very
eager participant in the horrors of this day. It may
be that De Soto, from the roof of the fortress, was an
inactive spectator of the scene. It does not seem
possible that with the character he had heretofore
THE ATROCITIES OF PIZARRO.
103
developed, he could have lent his own strong arm and
those of his horsemen to the perpetration of a crime
so atrocious. Still military discipline is a terrible
power. It sears the conscience and hardens the
. ^
heart. The fact that De Soto was present and that
there are no evidences of remonstrances on his part,
has left a stigma upon his character which time can¬
not efface.
the propagation of the Christian faith, unmindful of
mission
with all alacrity, to the work of pillage. The golden
throne, and the royal wardrobe, were of very great
value. The nobles were clad in their richest gar¬
ments of state, and the ground was strewn with
bodies of the dead, glittering in robes of gold and
gems. Having stripped the dead, they then entered
%
the houses and temples of Caxamarca and loaded
themselves down with golden vases, and other booty
of great value. As one suggestive item, which
reveals the conduct of these brutal men, the good
Las Casas states, that a Spanish soldier seized a
young Peruvian girl. When the mother rushed tc
rescue her child, he cut off her arm with his sword,
and then in his rage hewed the maiden to pieces.
Pizarro now assumed the proud title of “ The Con¬
queror of Peru.” With the sovereign as his prisoner.
10 A
DE SOTO.
ft
and elated by his great v.ctory, he felt t hs diere was
no resistance that he had to fear. It seems that
Attahuallapa had penetration ■ enough '•o discern that
De Soto was a very different man ir character from
the Pizarros. He soon became qu te cordial and
unreserved in his intercourse with him. And there
is no evidence that De Soto ever, in the slightest
degree, betrayed his confidence. One day the Inca
inquired of De Soto for what amount of ransom
release him. De Soto
Pizarro would be willing to release
was well aware of the timidity and avarice of the cap¬
tain. The love of the Peruvians for their sovereign
was such, that Pizarro was confident that so long as
Attahuallapa was in his power, they would not make
war upon him. De Soto felt therefore that there was
no prospect that Pizarro would release his captive for
any ransom whatever, and sadly advised him to resign
all such hope. The Inca was greatly distressed.
After a few moments of silence, he said :
“ My friend, do not deprive me of the only hope that
can make life supportable. I must be free, or I must
die. Your commander loves gold above all things.
Surely I can purchase my liberty from him at some
price, and however unreasonable it may be, I am
willing to satisfy his demand.
me
sum
For a moment De Soto made no reply. They
THE ATROCITIES OF TIZARRO. 10$
were sitting in a room, according to the statement of
Pizarro’s secretary, twenty-two feet long and seven¬
teen feet broad. Then turning to the Inca, and wish¬
ing to impress his mind with the conviction that
there was not any ransom which could effect his
release, he said:
“ If you could fill this room with gold as high as I
can reach with my sword, Pizarro might perhaps
accept it as your ransom.”
“It shall be done,” the Inca eagerly replied.
' ‘ And I beg you to let Pizarro know, that within a
month from this day, my part of the contract shall be
fulfilled.
De Soto was troubled, for he had not intended
that as an offer, but rather as a statement of an
impossibility. He however felt bound to report the
proposition to Pizarro. Much to his surprise the ava-
i _
ricious captain readily accepted it. The contract was
drawn up, and Pizarro gave his solemn pledge that upon
the delivery of the gold the prison doors of the captive
should be thrown open. But after the terms had all
been settled, the perfidious Spaniard craved a still
higher ransom, and declared that he would not release
his victim unless another room of equal size was
equally filled with silver.
could fully appreciate such dishon¬
orable conduct; for in all moral qualities he seema
5 *
DE SOTO.
106
4
to have been decidedly superior to his Spanish antag¬
onist. But without any undignified murmurs, he
submitted to this extortion also. Matters being thus
arranged, De Soto, with his characteristic plain deal¬
ing, said to Pizarro.
“ I hope you will remember, Don Francisco, that
my honor is pledged for the strict fulfilment of the
contract on the part of the Spaniards. Observe,
therefore, that as soon as the gold and the silver are
produced, Attahuallapa must have his liberty.”
CHAPTER VII.
The Execution of the Inca , and Embarrassments of
De Soto.
Pledges of Pizarro.—His Perfidy.—False Mission of De Soto.—Kxe*
cution of the Inca.—His Fortitude.—Indignation of De Soto.—
Great Embarrassments.—Extenuating Considerations.—Arrival oi
Almagro.—March Towards the Capital.
Pizarro gave his most solemn pledges, on his
Christian faith, that so soon as the money was paid
the Inca should be released. The idea does not seem
to have entered the mind of Attahuallapa that Pizarro
could be guilty of the perfidy of violating those
pledges. The unhappy condition of the Inca excited
the strong sympathies of De Soto. He visited him
often, and having a natural facility for the acquisition
of language, was soon able to converse with the cap-
%
tive in his own tongue. Quite a friendship, founded
on mutual esteem, sprang up between them. By his
strong intercession, Pizarro was constrained to con¬
sent that the gold should not be melted into ingots,
*
thus to fill the designated space with its solid bulk,
but that it should be received and packed away in
the form of vases, and ornaments, and other manu¬
factured articles, as brought in by the Peruvians.
io8
DE SOTO.
Several of the principal officers of Attahuallapa’s
court were sent to Cuzco, the capital of the empire*
where the main treasures of the kingdom were depos-
Three Spaniards accompanied these officers.
ited.
The Inca issued his orders that they should be
treated with respect The people obeyed; for they
knew that any injury or insult befalling the Span¬
iards would bring down terrible retribution upon
their beloved sovereign. Peruvian agents were also
dispatched to all the temples to strip them of their
W
ornaments, and to the homes of the nobility to
receive the plate and golden decorations which were
eagerly contributed as ransom for the king. The
4
cornices and entablatures of the temples were often
of solid gold, and massive plates of gold encrusted
4
the walls. For several weeks there seemed to be a
constant procession of Peruvians entering the for¬
tress, laden with golden vases and innumerable other
utensils, often of exquisite workmanship.
Within the allotted time the ransom, enormous as
it was, was all brought in. It is estimated that its
value was equal to about twenty million dollars of our
money. The Inca now demanded his release. The
infamous Pizarro had perhaps originally intended to
set him at liberty. But he had now come to the con-
mmediately
him
EXECUTION OF THE INCA. ICKJ
tion of the kingdom, cut off the retreat of the Span¬
iards, exterminate them, and win back all the plun-
*
der so unrighteously extorted. Pizarro was conse¬
quently plotting for some plausible excuse for putting
the monarch to death. The Peruvians thus deprived
of their sovereign, and in a state of bewilderment,
would be thrown into anarchy, and the Spaniards
would have a much better chance of obtaining entire
possession of the kingdom.
Pizarro did not dare to reveal to De Soto his trea¬
sonable designs. He feared not only his reproaches,
¥
but his determined and very formidable resistance.
He therefore gave it as an excuse for postponing the
liberation of the Inca, that he must wait until he had
made a division of the spoils. The distribution was
performed with imposing religious ceremonies. Mass
was celebrated, and earnest prayers were addressed
to Pleaven that the work might be so performed as
to meet the approbation of God. A fifth part of the
plunder was set apart for the king of Spain, the
Emperor, Charles the Fifth. Pizarro, as commander
of the expedition, came next, and his share amounted
to millir ns. De Soto was defrauded, not receiving
half so much as Hernando Pizarro. Still, his share
in th’j# distribution and in another which soon took
place, Amounted to over five hundred thousand dol¬
lars. This was an enormous sum in those days. Il
XIO
DE SOTO.
elevated him at once, in point of opulence, to the
rank of the proudest grandees of Spain.
1 '
The great object ofDe Soto’s ambition was ac¬
complished. He had acquired fame and wealth be-
%
yond his most sanguine expectations. Thus he was
%
prepared to return to Spain and demand the hand of
Isabella. But his generous nature was troubled.
He became very anxious for the fate of the Inca.
His own honor was involved in his release, and day
in his expostu¬
lations with Pizarro.
“ Whatever the consequences may be,” said De
Soto, “ the Inca must now be immediately set at lib¬
erty. He has your promise to that effect and he has
mine; and my promise, come what will, shall not be
violated.”
Pizarro urged, in view of their peril, the delay of a
few weeks. De Soto replied :
v
“ Not a single week, not a day; if you do not lib¬
erate the prisoner, I will take that liberty on myself.”
4
“To give him his freedom at this time,” Pizarro
replied, “ would be certain destruction to us all.”
“ That may be,” responded De Soto, “ but that
should have been considered before he was admitted
to ransom.”
“But since that agreement was made,” said Pi¬
zarro, “ I have received information which justifies me
after day he became more importunate
EXECUTION OF THE INCA III
*
In changing my intentions. Attahuallapa’s officers,
t
acting under his directions, are now engaged in excit¬
ing an_ insurrection for the extermination of the
Spaniards.”
(
De Soto had no faith whatever in this accusation.
4
• • <
There was a long and angry controversy. ' Pizarro
called in his interpreter Filipillo, who was undoubt¬
edly bribed to testify according to the wishes of his
master. He declared that the Inca was organizing
this conspiracy. De Soto was unconvinced. He
still regarded the accusation as a groundless cal¬
umny.
* i
Finally they came to a compromise. The treach¬
erous and wily Pizarro suggested that De Soto should
take a party of dragoons and proceed to that section
of the country, where it was said the conspirators
*
were assembling in vast numbers, in preparation for
their onset upon the Spaniards. If De Soto found
no indication of such a movement, Pizarro gave his
solemn pledge, that immediately upon his return, he
would release Attahuallapa. De Soto agreed to the
arrangement, and at once set out on the journey.
Pizarro had thus accomplished his object, of be¬
ing relieved of the embarrassment of De Soto’s pres¬
ence; while he should lead the Inca to his execution.
A sort of council of war was held, though Attahu-
allapa was not present, and nothing was heard in his
112
DE SOTO.
defence. It was necessary to proceed with the ut¬
most expedition, as De Soto would soon return.
The horrible verdict of the court was, that thq captive
should be burned to death at the stake. Pizarrq
himself, it is said, carried the terrible intelligence to
the prisoner.
The Inca, a young man in the very prime of life,
being but thirty years of age, was horror stricken, and
for some time sat in silence, not uttering a word.
And then turning to Pizarro, he said :
“ Is it possible that you can believe in a God and
fear him, and yet dare to commit such an act of injus¬
tice ? What have I done to deserve death in any
form
condemned
so unusual and painful. Surely you cannot intend to
execute this cruel sentence.”
Pizarro assured him that the decree of the court
was unalterable, and must immediately be carried
into effect.
« Think of the wrong you have already done me,”
said the Inca, “ and do not forget how much you are
indebted to my kindness and forbearance. I could
easily have intercepted you in the mountain passes,
and made you all prisoners, or sacrificed you all justly
country,
I could have
overpowered you with my armed warriors at Caxa-
marca. But I failed in my duty to my people :n
EXECUTION OF THE INCA.
113
me
r#.'
away,
receiving you as friends. You have robbed
my kingdom and compelled me to insult my Deity,
by stripping his temples to satisfy your avarice.
“ Of all my possessions, you have left me nothing
but my life, and that I supposed you would be willing
to spare me, since you can gain nothing by taking it
Consider how hard it is for me to die, so sud¬
denly and without any warning of my danger. I have
lived but thirty years, and until very lately, I had
every reason to hope for a long and happy life. My
prospects for happiness are blighted forever. But I
will not complain of that, if you will permit me to
live out the term which God and nature have allot¬
ted me.”
The execution was to take place immediately.
Pizarro waited only for the sun to go down, that dark¬
ness might shroud the fiend-like deed. As they were
talking Pizarro’s chaplain, Friar Vincent, came in to
prepare the victim for the sacrifice. He was dressed
in his ecclesiastical robes, and bore in his hand a
large crucifix. Was he an unmitigated knave, or was
he a fanatic ? Who but God can tell.
It is time for you,” said he, “ to withdraw your
thoughts from earthly vanities and fix them upon the
realities of the eternal world. You are justly con¬
demned to death, for your infidelity and other sins..
I call on you to accept the free gift of salvation which
it
114
DE SOTO.
I now offer you, so that you may escape the greater
punishment of eternal fire.”
The Inca seemed to pay little heed to these
words, but with a gesture
of impatience and anger,
exclaimed:
“ Oh, where is De Soto ? He is a good man, and
he is my friend. Surely he will not allow me to be
thus murdered.”
“ De Soto,” the priest replied, " is far away. No
earthly help can avail you. Receive the consolations
of the Church; kiss the feet of this image, and I will
absolve you from your sins, and prepare you to enter
the kingdom of Heaven.”
“ I worship the Maker of all things,” the Inca
firmly replied. “ As much as I desire to live, I will
not forsake the faith of my fathers to prolong my
life.”
Two hours after sunset, the sound of the trumpet
assembled the Spanish soldiers by torchlight in the
great square of Caxamarca. It was the evening of
the twenty-ninth of August, 1533. The clanking
of chains was heard as the victim, manacled hand and
foot, toiled painfully over the stone pavement of the
square. He was bound by chains to the stake;
the combustible fagots were pi ed up around him.
Friar Vincent then, it is said, holding up the cross
before the victim, told him that if he would embrace
">
EXECUTION OF THE INCA.
115
Christianity he should be spared the cruel death by
the flames, and experience in its stead only the pain¬
less death of the garotte, and that the Inca did, while
thus chained to the stake, abjure his religion and
receive the rite of baptism. In reference to this rep¬
resentation Mr., Lambert A. Wilmer, in his admira¬
ble life of Ferdinand De Soto, says :
“ As the traducers of the dead Inca were permit¬
ted to tell their own story without fear of contradic¬
tion, it is impossible to assign any limits to their
*
fabrications. And their testimony is probable, only
when it tends to criminate themselves. Perhaps the
greatest injustice which these slanderers have done
to Attahuallapa’s memory, was by pretending that he
became an apostate to his own religion and a convert
to Catholicism just before his death.
“If this story were true, how could Pizarro justify
himself, or how could the Pope and the king of Spain
excuse him for putting a Christian to death on account
sins committed by an infidel. Surely the royal
penitent, when he entered the pale of the Holy Cath¬
olic Church, would be entitled to a free pardon for
those errors of conduct which were incidental to his
unregenerate condition. We are told that when the
»
Inca had consented to be baptized by Father Vin-
••
cent, Pizarro graciously commuted his sentence, and
allowed him to be strangled before his body was
n6
DE SOTO.
reduced to ashes.” These fictions were doubtless
contrived to illustrate Pizarro’s clemency, and Father
Vincent’s apostolic success.
The probability is, as others state, that the Inca
remained firm to the end ; the torch was applied, and
while the consuming flames wreathed around him, he
uttered no cry. In this chariot of fire the spirit of
this deeply outraged man was borne to the judgment
of God.
De Soto soon returned. He was almost frantic
with indignation when he learned of the crime which
had been perpetrated in his absence, and perceived
that his mission was merely an artifice to get him out
m
of the way. His rage blazed forth in the most
vio¬
lent reproaches. Hastening to the tent of Pizarro,
he rudely pushed aside a sentinel who guarded the
entrance, and found the culprit seated on a low
affecting the attitude of a mourner. A larg
hat was bent over his eyes.
“ Uncover yourself,” said De Soto, “ unless y
are ashamed to look a human being in the face.”
Then with the point of his sword he struck off his
hat, exclaiming:
u Is it not enough that. I have disgraced myself
in the eyes of the world by becoming your compan¬
ion and confederate, making myself accessory to your
crimes, and protecting you from the punishment you
EXECUTION OF THE INCA.
117
.•serve
Have you not heaped infamy enough upon
me, without dishonoring me by the violation of my
pledges, and exposing me to the suspicion of being
connected with the most cruel and causeless murder
that ever set human laws and divine justice at defi¬
ance ? I have ascertained, what you well knew before
I left Caxamarca, that the report of the insurrection
was ulterly false. I have met nothing on the road
but demonstrations of good will. The whole country
is quiet, and Attahuallapa has been basely slandered.
You, Francisco Pizarro, are his slanderer, and you
are his murderer.
“ To prove that I have had no participation in the
I
deed, I will make you accountable for his death.
Craven and prevaricating villain as you are, you shall
%
not escape this responsibility. If you refuse to meet
honorable combat, I will denounce you to the
of Spain as a criminal, and will proclaim you to
hole world as a coward and an assassin.”
Pizarro was both, an assassin and a coward. He
«
stood in awe of his intrepid lieutenant. He did not
dare to meet him in a personal rencontre, and he
well knew that De Soto was not a man to be taken
by force or guile, as he could immediately rally around
him the whole body of his well drilled-dragoons. He
therefore began to make excuses, admitted that he
had acted hastily,'and endeavored *o throw the blame
n8
DE SOTO.
upon others, declaring that by their false representa
tions they had forced him to the act.
In the midst of the dispute, Pizarro’s brothers—
for there were two in the camp—entered the tern.
De Soto, addressing the three, said :
“ I am the champion of Attahuallapa. I accuse
Francisco Pizarro of being his murderer.” Then
throwing his glove upon the floor, he continued :
“ I invite any man who is disposed to deny that
Francisco Pizarro is a coward and an assassin, to take
it up.”
The gauge remained untouched. De Soto turned
upon his heel contemptuously, and left the tent,
resolved, it is said, no longer to have any connection
whatever with such perfidious wretches. He imme¬
diately resigned his commission as lieutenant-general
and announced his determination to return to
But alas, for human frailty and inconsistency, ]
to take with him the five hundred thousand dollars of
treasure of which the Peruvians had been ruthlessly
What
ted with himself,
The Inca is dead
It
would not be wise to throw it into the streets, and
I surely am not bound to contribute it to the already
enormous wealth of Pizarro.”
Another source of embarrassment arose,
forcements to the number of two hundred men had just
EXECUTION OF THE INCA.
119
arrived at
%
under Almagro. They had been
commissioned
of Spain to join the enterprise. The whole
num
assembled
_ _ _ i
Peruvian empire, now amounted to about five hun
dred. Mountain ridges rose between them and th<
impassable
a few
hundred resolute men might arrest the advance of an
army. The Peruvians had a standing force of fifty-
thousand soldiers. The whole population of the
country was roused to the highest pitch of indigna¬
tion. They were everywhere
their
arms
Nothing but the most consummate prudence coulc
rescue the Spaniards from their perilous position
imminent
exterminated.
m
For De Soto, under these circumstances, to aban-
. I
don his comrades, and retv/e from the field, would
seem an act of cowardice. He had no confidence in
the ability of the Pizarros to rescue the Spaniards.
He therefore judged that duty to his king and his coun¬
trymen demanded of him that he should remain in
Peru, until he could leave the army in a safe condi¬
tion.
Pizarro did not venture to resent the reproaches
and t defiance of De Soto, but immediately prepared
to avail himself of his military abilities, in a march of
120
DE SOTO.
several hundred mi
the empire. With
treachery
seized one of the most distinguished nobles of the
Peruvian court, and held him as a hostage. This
nobleman, named Chalcukima, had occupied some of
the highest posts of honor in the kingdom, and was
greatly revered and beloved by the Peruvians.
Pizarro sent far and wide the announcement, that
upon the slightest movement of hostility on the part
of the natives, Chalcukima would be put to death.
The Spaniards now set out on their long march.
It was in the month of September, 1533, one of the
most lovely months in that, attractive clime. But for
the rapine, carnage and violence of war, such a tour
through the enchanting valley of the Cordilleras, in
the midst of fruits and flowers, and bird songs, and
traversing populous villages inhabited by a gentle
and amiable people, would have been an enterprise
full of enjoyment. But the path of these
men was marked by the ravages of fiends. And not¬
withstanding the great embarrassments in which De
demoniac
Soto found himself involved, it is very difficult to find
any excuse for him, in allowing himself to be one of
their number.
*
Francisco Pizarro led the band. His brother
Hernando, De Soto, and Almagro, were his leading
captains. But it was the genius of De Soto alone,
EXECUTION OF THE INCA.
121
with his highly disciplined dragoons, which conducted
the enterprise to a successful issue. He led the
advance; he was always sent to every point of dan¬
ger ; his sword opened the path, through which
Pizarro followed with his vagabond and plundering
crew.
In trembling solicitude for his own safety, Pizarro
not only held Chalcukima as a hostage, but he also
seized upon Topaxpa, the young, feeble and grief-
stricken son of the murdered Attahuallapa, and
declared him to be, by legitimate right, the successor
to the throne. Thus he still had the Inca in his
power. The Peruvians were still accustomed to
regard the Inca with almost religious homage.
Topaxpa was compelled to issue such commands as
Pizarro gave to him. Thus an additional element ot
embarrassment was thrown into the ranks of the
Peruvians. Communication between different parts
of the empire was
emely difficult and slow.
There were no mails and no horses. This gave the
mounted Spaniards a vast advantage over their bewil¬
dered victims.
For several days the Spanish army moved delight¬
fully along, through a series of luxuriant valleys,
where the secluded people had scarcely heard of their
arrival in the country. The movement of the glitter¬
ing host was one of the most wonderful pageants
122
t>E SOTO.
which Peruvian eyes had ever beheld. A multitude
of men, women and children, thronged the highway,
gazing with curiosity and admiration upon the scene,
and astonished by the clatter of the hoofs of the
horses upon the flag-stones, with which the national
road was so carefully paved. During these few days of
peaceful travel the natives presented no opposition to
the march, and the presence of De Soto seemed to
It
restrain the whole army from deeds of ruffianly vio¬
lence. Whenever Pizarro wished to engage in any
of his acts of villany, he was always careful first to
send De Soto away on some important mission.
They were now approaching a deep and rapid
mountain stream, where the bridge had. either been
carried away by the recent flood or had been destroy¬
ed by the Peruvians. They were also informed that
quite a large army was gathered upon the opposite
bank to arrest, with the aid of the rushing torrent,
the farther advance of the Spaniards. Pizarro imme¬
diately ordered a halt. De Soto, with a hundred
horsemen, was sent forward to reconnoitre, and, if
possible, to open the path. Almagro, with two hun¬
dred footmen, followed closely behind to support the
cavalry.
De Soto, without paying much attention to his
infantry allies, pressed so rapidly forward as soon to
leave them far behind. He reached the river. It
EXECUTION OF THE INCA.
123
was a swollen mountain torrent. Several thousand
natives, brandishing their javelins and their war clubs,
stood upon the opposite bank of the stream. De
Soto and his horsemen, without a moment’s hesitation,
plunged into the stream, and some by swimming and
some by fording, soon crossed the foaming waters.
As the war horses, with their steel-clad riders, came
rushing upon the Peruvians, their keen swords flash¬
ing in the sunlight, a large part of the army fled in
great terror. It seemed to them that supernatural
foes had descended for their destruction.
A few remained, and fought with the energies of
despair. But they were powerless before the tramp¬
ling horses and the sharp weapons of their foes.
They were cut down mercilessly, and it was the
genius of De Soto which guided in the carnage, and
the strong arm of De Soto which led in the bloody
fray. And we must not forget that these Peruvians
were fighting for their lives, their liberty, their all;
and that these Spaniards were ruthless invaders.
Neither can we greatly admire the heroism displayed
oy the assailants. The man who is carefully gloved
and masked can with impunity rob the bees of their
honey. The wolf does not need much courage to
induce him to leap into the fold of the lambs.
»
In the vicinity of this routed army there was a
pagan temple; that is, a temple dedicated to the Sun,
DE SOTO.
124
the emblem of the God of the Peruvians. It was in
those days thought that the heathen and all their pos-
Is
sessions, rightly belonged to the Christians; that it
was the just desert of the pagans to be plundered and
put to death. Even the mind of De Soto was so far
in accord with these infamous doctrines of a benighted
age, that he allowed his troopers to plunder the
temple of all its rich treasures of silver and of gold.
A very large amount of booty was thus obtained.
One of the principal ornaments of this temple was
an artificial sun, of large size, composed of pure and
solid gold.
1
Mr. Wilmer, speaking of this event, judiciously
remarks:
“De Soto, finding his path once more unob¬
structed, pushed forward, evidently disposed to open
the way to Cuzco without the assistance of his tardy
and irresolute commander. It is a remarkable fact.
and one which admits of no denial, that every imp or
tant military movement of the Spaniards in Peru
until the final subjugation of the empire by the cap
De
Up to the time to which our narrative now refers
r
Pizarro had never fought a single battle which de
served the name. The bloody tragedy of Caxa-
marca, it will be remembered, was only massacre j
the contrivance and execution of which required no
V b>
125
EXECUTION OF THE INCA.
military skill and no soldier-like courage. Pizarro
acquired the mastery of Peru by the act of a malefac¬
tor. And he was, in fact, a thief and not a con-
♦
queror. The heroic element of this conquest is rep¬
resented by the actions of De Soto.’'
CHAPTER VIII.
t
De Soto Returns to Spain ,
Dreadful Fate of Chalcukima.—His Fortitude.—Ignominy of Pi*
zarro,—De Soto’s Advance upon Cuzco.—The Peruvian High*
way.—Battle in the Defile.—De Soto takes the Responsibility.—
Capture of the Capital and its Conflagration.—De Soto’s Return
to Spain.—His Reception there.—Preparations for the Conquest
of Florida*
Considering the relations which existed between
De Soto and Pizarro, it is not improbable that each
was glad to be released from the presence of the
other. It is very certain that so soon as De Soto
was gone, Pizarro, instead of hurrying forward to sup¬
port him in the hazardous encounters to which he was
exposed, immediately engaged, with the main body
of his army, in plundering all the mansions of the
wealthy and the temples on their line of march. And
it is equally certain that De Soto, instead of waiting
for the troops of Pizarro to come up, put spurs to his
horse and pressed on, as if he were anxious to place
as great a distance as possible between himself and
his superior in command.
Though DeSoto had allowed his troops to plunder
the temple of Xauxa, he would allow no robbery of
private dwellings, and rigidly prohibited the slightest
DE SOTO RETURNS TO SPAIN.
v. it of violence or injustice towards the persons of the
natives.
It will be remembered that Pizarro had threatened
t o hold Chalcukima responsible for any act of hostil¬
ity on the part of the Peruvians. He now summoned
his captive before him, and charged him with treason ;
accusing him of having incited his countrymen to
measures of resistance. Chalcukima, with dignity
and firmness which indicate a noble character, re¬
plied :
“ If it had been possible for me to communicate
%
with the people, I should certainly have advised them
to do their duty to their country, without any regard
to my personal safety. But you well know that the
vigilance with which you have guarded me, has pre¬
vented me from making any communication of the
kind. I am sorry that it has not been in my power
to be guilty of the fact with which you charge me.”
The wretched Pizarro, utterly incapable of appre¬
ciating the grandeur of such a character, ordered him
to be burned at the stake. The fanatic robber and
murderer, insulting the cross of Christ, by calling
himself a Christian, sent his private chaplain, Friar
Vincent, to convert Chalcukima to what he called the
Christian faith. The priest gave an awful descrip-
tion of the glooms of hell, to which the prisoner was
destined as a heathen. In glowing colors he deoicted
128
DE SOTO.
the splendors of the celestial Eden, to which he wouid
be admitted the moment after his execution if he
would accept the Christian faith. The captive coldly
replied:
“I do not understand your religion, and all that I
have seen of it does not impress me in its favor.”
He was led to the stake. Not a cry escaped his
lips, as the fierce flames consumed his quivering
flesh. From that scene of short, sharp agony, we
trust that his spirit ascended to be folded in the
embrace of his Heavenly Father. It is a fundamen¬
tal principle in the teachings of Jesus, that in every
nation he that feareth God, and doeth righteousness,
is accepted of him. But God’s ways here on earth
are indeed past all finding out. Perhaps the future
will solve the dreadful mystery, but at present, as wo
contemplate man’s inhumanity to man, our eyes aro
often blinded with tears, and our hearts sink despair-
ingly within us.
De Soto pressed rapidly onwards, league after
league, over sublime eminences and through luxuri¬
ant vales. The road was admirable : smooth and
clean as a floor. It was constructed only for foot
i
passengers, as the Peruvians had no animals larger
1 - ,
«
than the lama or sheep. This advance-guard of the
Spanish army, all well mounted, and inspired by the
energies of their impetuous chief, soon reached a
DE SOTO RETURNS TO SPAIN.
129
point where the road led over a mountain by steps
cut in the solid rock, steep as a flight of stairs. Pre¬
cipitous cliffs rose hundreds of feet on either side.
Here it was necessary for the troopers to dismount,
and carefully to lead their horses by the bit up the
difficult ascent.
1
The road was winding and irregular, leading
through the most savage scenery. This pass, at its
summit, opened upon smooth table-land, luxuriant
and beautiful under the influence of a tropical sun
and mountain showers and dews. About half way
up this pass, upon almost inaccessible crags, several
thousand Peruvians had assembled to make another
attempt at resistance. Arrows and javelins were of
but little avail. Indeed they always rebounded from
the armor of the Spaniards as from the ledges ol
eternal rock.
*
But the natives had abundantly provided them¬
selves with enormous stones to roll down upon the
heads of men and horses. Quite a band of armed
men were also assembled upon the open plain at the
head of the pass. As the Spaniards were almost
dragging their horses up the gorge, suddenly the
storm of war burst upon them. Showers of stone
descended from the cliff from thousands of unseen
hands. Huge boulders were pried over and went
thundering down, crashing all opposition before them.
130
DE SOTO.
It seems now incomprehensible why the whole squad¬
ron of horsemen was not destroyed. But in this aw-
fill hour the self-possession of De Soto did not for
one moment forsake him. He shouted to his men :
“ If we halt here, or attempt to go back, we must
certainly perish. Our only safety is in pressing for¬
ward. As soon as we reach the top of the pass, we
can easily put these men to flight.”
Suiting his action to his words, and being at the
head of his men, he pushed forward with almost frantic
energy, carefully watching and avoiding the descend-
€
ing missiles. Though several horses and many men
were killed, and others sorely wounded, the majority
soon reached the‘head of the pass. They then had
an unobstructed plain before them, over which their
horses could gallop in any direction at their utmost
speed.
Impetuously they fell upon the band collected
there, who wielded only the impotent weapons of ar¬
rows, javelins and war clubs. The Spaniards, exas¬
perated by the death of their comrades, and by their
own wounds, took desperate vengeance. No quarter
was showii Their sabres dripped with blood. Few
could escape the swift-footed steeds. The dead were
trampled beneath iron hoofs. Night alone ended the
carnage. .
During the night the Peruvians bravely rallied
DE SOTO RETURNS TO SPAIN.
IU
from their wide dispersion over the mountains, re¬
solved in their combined force to make another at¬
tempt to resist their foes. They were conscious that
should they fail here, their case was hopeless.
At the commencement of the conflict a courier
had been sent back, by De Soto, to urge Almagro to
push forward his infantry as rapidly as possible. By
a forced march they pressed on through the hours of
the night, almost upon the run. The early dawn
brought them to the pass. Soon the heart of De
Soto was cheered as he heard their bugle blasts re¬
verberating among the cliffs of the mountains. Their
banners appeared emerging from the defile, and two
hundred well-armed men joined his ranks.
Though the Peruvians were astonished at this ac¬
cession to the number of their foes, they still came
bravely forward to the battle. It was another scene
of slaughter for the poor Peruvians. They i nfli cted
but little harm upon the Spaniards, while hundreds
of their slain soon strewed the ground.
The Spanish infantry, keeping safely beyond the
reach of arrow or javelin, could, with the deadly bul¬
let, bring down a Peruvian as fast as they could load
and fire, while the horsemen could almost with im-
punity plunge into the densest ranks of the foe. The
Peruvians were vanquished, dispersed, and cut down,
until the Spaniards even were weary with carnage.
132
DE SOTO.
This was the most important battle which wa& (v tight
in the conquest of Peru.
„_nty-five miles from the cap¬
ital, to which the army could now advance by an. ah
most unobstructed road. De Soto was anxious to
press on immediately and take possession of the city.
He however yielded to the earnest entreaties of Al-
magro, and consented to remain where he wi\s with
his band of marauders. This delay, in a military
very
Had
But Almagro was the
they gone immediately forward, the vanquished and
panic-stricken Peruvians would not have ventured
upon another encounter,
friend of Pizarro, dependent upon him, and had been
his accomplice in many a deed of violence. He was
anxious that Pizarro should have the renown of a
conqueror, and should enjoy the triumph of riding at
the head of his troops into the streets of the van¬
quished capital.
This delay of several days gave the Peruvians
time to recover from their consternation, and they or¬
ganized another formidable line of defense in a valley
which the Spaniards would be compelled to traverse,
a few miles from the city. Pizarro was still several
miles in the rear. De Soto dispatched a courier to
him
which
the army was exposed, and stating that the Peruvians
DE SOTO RETURNS TO SPAIN. 1 33
were well posted, and that every hour of delay added
to their strength. Still Pizarro loitered behind; still
Almagro expressed his decided reluctance to advance
before Pizarro’s arrival. To add to De Soto’s embar¬
rassments, he declared that De Soto was acting with¬
out authority and in direct opposition to the orders of
his superior. After a little hesitancy De Soto re¬
solved to take the responsibility and to advance. He
said to Almagro :
“A soldier who is entrusted with an important
command, is not bound in all cases to await the orders
of his superior. Where there' is manifestly an im¬
portant advantage to be gained, he must be allowed
to act according to his own discretion.”
He then appealed to his own dragoons, saying tc
them:
i
pends upon the celerity of our movements.
While
we are waiting for Pizarro, our best chance for vic¬
tory will be lost.”
With one united voice the dragoons of De Soto
demanded to be led forward. Availing himself of
this enthusiasm, De Soto put his troops in motion.
The Peruvians were a few miles in advance, strongly
posted in a deep and rugged ravine, where they
hoped that the movements of the hcrses would be so
impeded that they could accomplish but little. They
f
DE SOTO.
134
pressed forward, and the battle was immediately com¬
menced. Both parties fought with great fury. In
the midst of the conflict a large re-enforcement of
the natives came rushing upon the field, under the
leadership of a young Peruvian noble, who displayed
truly chivalric courage and energy. De Soto was
ever where the blows fell thickest and where danger
was most imminent.
Quite a number of the Peruvians were slain, and
many dead horses were strewed over the field. At
one time De Soto, separated from his comrades by the
surging tides of the battle, found himself surrounded
by twenty Peruvians, who, with arrows, javelins and
battle clubs,assailed him with the utmost impetuosity.
Javelins and arrows glanced harmless from the Span¬
ish armor.
armed
wielded by sinewy arms, were formidable weapons
even for the belted knight to encounter. De Soto,
with his keen and ponderous sword, cut his way
through his assailants, strewing the ground with the
dead. The young Peruvian, who, it is said, was heir
to the throne of the Inca, had assumed the general
command.
He gazed with astonishment upon the exploits of
De Soto, and said in despairing tones to his attend¬
ants : “ It is useless to contend with such enemies \
These men are destined to be our masters ”
DE SGTO RETURNS TO SPAIN.
135
Immediately he approached De Soto, throwing
down, his arms, advancing alone, and indicating by
gestures that he was ready to surrender. The battle
at once ceased, and most of the Peruvian army rushed
precipitately back towards the city. In a state of
frenzy they applied the torch in all directions, re¬
solved to thwart the avarice of the conqueror by lay¬
ing the whole city and all its treasures in ashes. The
inhabitants of Cuzco, almost without exception, fled.
Each one seized upon whatever of value could be
carried away. Volumes of smoke and the bursting
flames soon announced to the Spaniards the doom of
the city.
» '
De Soto and his dragoons put spurs to their
horses and hastened forward, hoping to extinguish
the conflagration. Now that the battle was fought
and the victory won, Francisco Pizarro, with his band
1
of miscreants, came rushing on to seize the plunder.
a They came like wolves or jackals to fatten on
the prey which never could have been attained by
their own courage or prowess. The disappointment
4
of Pizarro and his congenial associates, when they
found that the principal wealth of the city had been
carried off by the Peruvians, vented itself in acts of
diabolical cruelty. They seized on the aged and sick
persons who had been unable to escape, and put many
of them to the torture to make them confess where
DE SOTO.
the treasures of Cuzco were concealed. Either tliese
unfortunate people could not give the information re¬
quired, or they had sufficient firmness to endure
agony and death rather than betray the consecrated
treasures of their national monuments and altars into
the hands of their enemies.” i;: *
It was late in the afternoon of a November day,
1533, when the dragoons of De Soto, closely followed
by the whole Spanish army, entered the burning
streets of Cuzco. They ran about eagerly in all di¬
rections searching for gold in the blazing palaces and
temples. Thus an immense amount of spoil was
found, which the Peruvians had been unable to re¬
move. It is said that after one-fifth had been sub-
stracted for the Spanish crown, and the officers had
received their abundant shares, the common soldiers,
four hundred and eighty in number, received each
one a sum amounting to four thousand dollars.
Peru was conquered, but the victors had indeed
gained a loss. Nearly all who were engaged in the
enterprise perished miserably. Almagro was event¬
ually taken captive by the Peruvians and strangled.
Hernando Pizarro, returning to Spain, languished for
weary years in a prison. The younger brother was
beheaded. Friar Vincent, who had given the sup¬
port of religion to many of the most atrocious of
* Life of Ferdinand De
Soto, by Lambert A. Wilmer, p, 27:2*
DE SOTO RETURNS TO SPAIN.
137
crimes
with
and they all were massacred. Francisco Pizarro him-
4
self fell a victim to a conspiracy among his ' own sol-
mid
death in his own
palace.
men
crime
steps of De Soto.
Early in the year 1534, De Soto took leave of his
comrades in Peru, and embarked for Spain. He had
left his native land in poverty. He now returned af¬
ter an absence of about fifteen years, greatly enriched,
prepared in opulence as well as in illustrious birth to
take his stand with the proudest grandees of that
then opulent realm. His last labors in Peru were
spent in unavailing endeavors to humanize the spirit
of his countrymen there, and to allay the bitter feuds
But his de-
parture seemed to remove from them all restraints,
and Spaniards and Peruvians alike were whelmed in
a common ruin.
No account has been transmitted to us of De
Soto‘s return voyage. While he was in Peru, Don
Pedro had died. His sick-bed was a scene of linger¬
ing agony, both of body and of mind. The proud
spirit is sometimes vanquished and crushed by re¬
morse ; but it is never, by those scorpion lashes, sub¬
dued, and rendered humble and gentle and lovable;
which were springing up among them.
138 DE SOTO.
The d) ng sinner, whose soul was crimsoned veith
guilt, was overwhelmed with “ a certain fearful look¬
ing for of judgment and fiery indignation.” The ec¬
clesiastics, who surrounded his death-bed,assured him
that such sins as he had been guilty of could only be
expiated by the most liberal benefactions to the
church. He had never forgiven Isabella for her per¬
tinacious adherence to De Soto. In the grave he
could not prohibit their nuptials. By bequeathing
his wealth to the church, he could accomplish a double
•object. He could gratify his revenge by leaving his
daughter penniless, and thus De Soto, if he contin¬
ued faithful, would be compelled to receive to his
arms a dowerless bride; and a miserable superstition
him
could thus bribe God to throw
open to him the gates of paradise.
Don Pedro’s eldest daughter, Maria, was engaged
to be married to Vasco Nunez, the very worthy gov¬
ernor who had preceded Don Pedro at Darien, and
whom he had so infamously beheaded. She had spent
fifteen years in her father’s castle in the gloom and
tears of this cruel widowhood. Don Pedro bequeathed
nearly all his fortune to the endowment of a monas¬
tery, over which Maria was appointed abbess. Isa-
0
bella was left unprovided for. Thus suddenly the rel¬
ative position of the two lovers was entirely changed.
De Soto found himself in possession of large wealth
DE SOTO RETURNS TO SPAIN.
139
Isabella was reduced to poverty. We know not
• 1
where to find, in the annals of history, the record of
a more beautiful attachment than that which, during
fifteen years of separation, trial, and sorest tempta.-
T
tions, had united the hearts of De Soto and Isabella.
Their love commenced when they were children,
walking hand in hand, and playing in the bowers of
Don Pedro’s ancestral castle.
De Soto had now attained the age of thirty-five
years
When
*
we contemplate her youth, her beauty, the long years
of absence, without even a verbal message passing
between them, the deadly hostility of her father to
the union, and the fact that her hand had been re-
*
A
% «
peatedly solicited by the most wealthy of the Span¬
ish nobility, this fidelity of Isabella to her youthful
love is one of the most remarkable in the records of
time.
“ During the long separation,” says Mr. Wilmer,
“ of these exemplary lovers, many important changes
had taken place. Time and sorrow had somewhat
dimmed the lustre of Isabella’s beauty. But she was
still the fairest among ten thousand, and De Soto
was too deeply enamored and too justly appreciative
to value her the less, because the rose had partially
faded from her cheek.”
Immediately upon De Soto’s return to Spain, a«
140
DE SOTO.
all obstacles to their union were removed, the nuptial
was performed. The voice of fame had
ceremony
already proclaimed De Soto as the real conqueror of
- • *1 *1 i * t
Peru. As
but had also greatly enriched the Spanish crown. All
eyes were fixed upon him. It is said that at once he
became the most noted and most popular man in tne
kingdom. He and his bride were received at the
Spanish court with the most^flattering marks of dis¬
tinction. In his style of living he assumed almost
regal splendor. He had acquired his money very
suddenly, and he lavished it with an unsparing hand.
A contemporary annalist writes :
// TT/n 1 ^a nf/aTtrnrrl
. __J.1 ^ ^ ^ ^ T /""V 1
pages, a gentleman of the horse, a chamberlain, a
footman, and all other officers that the house - of a
’ *
nobleman requires.”
One of the most splendid mansions in Seville he
selected for his residence, and in less than two years
he found that one-half of his princely fortune had
melted away. They were two years of adulation, of
self-indulgence, of mental intoxication. It was a de¬
lirious dream from which he suddenly awoke. Re-
t
flection taught him that he must immediately curtail
his expenses, and very seriously, or engage in some
new er terprise to replenish his wasting purse.
The region of North America called Florida, a
DE SOTO RETURNS TO SPAIN.
141
territory of undefined and boundless extent, was then
attracting much attention as a fresh field for the ac¬
quisition of gold and glory. Several expeditions had
touched upon the unknown coast, but from various
causes had proved entire failures. Eight years be-
P
fore this De Narvaez had visited the country with
three hundred adventurers. He found the natives
far more warlike than the Peruvians, and the country
more difficult of access. De Narvaez himself, and
nearly all his band, fell before the fury of the Floridians
Five only escaped. One of these, Cabaca de Vaca, a
man of glowing imagination, and who held the pen of
a ready writer, wrote a Baron Munchausen account of
the expedition. He descanted upon the delicious
clime, the luxuriant soil, the populous cities, the
architectural splendor of the edifices, and the inex¬
haustible mines of silver and of gold. There was no
one to call his account in question. His extravagant
stories were generally believed.
De Soto, who was in the prime of his vigorous
manhood, having as yet only attained his thirty-seventh
i
year, read this narrative and pondered these statements
with enthusiasm. A couple of years of inaction in his
luxurious saloons had inspired him with new zeal for
romantic adventure ; and to this there was added the
*
powerful motive of the necessity of retrieving his for¬
tunes. He believed that gold could be gathered in
142
DE SOTO.
Florida, even more abundantly than in Peru ; that by
the aid of the crown a numerous colony might be
established where, under genial skies, every man
could be put into possession of broad acres of the
most luxuriant soil. And he felt fully confident that
his long experience on the isthmus and in P eru, qual¬
ified him in the highest degree to be the leader of
such an enterprise.
In these views he was sustained by the common
sentiment of the whole community. De Soto applied
to the king of Spain, the Emperor Charles Fifth, for
permission to organize an expedition, at his own
expense, for the conquest of Florida. He offered to
the crown, as usual for its share, one-fifth of the
plunder.
Eagerly the Emperor, who was always in need of
money, accepted the proposition, “ asking no questions,
for conscience’ sake.” The Emperor was very profuse
1
in conferring honors and titles upon his heroic sub¬
ject. He appointed him governor of the island of
Cuba, which he was to make the base of his Opera¬
tions, investing him with almost dictatorial powers as
both military and civil governor. He also granted
him a private estate in Florida, with the title of mar¬
quis, in whatever part of the country he might choose.
This magnificent estate was to consist of a legion,
ninety miles long and forty-five miles wide.
DS SOTO RETURNS TO SPAIN. 143
f
As soon as it was known throughout Spain that
De Soto was about to embark on such an enterprise,
volunteers began to flock to his standard. He would
. i
P
accept of none but the most vigorous young men,
whom he deemed capable of enduring the extremes
of toil and hardship. In a few months nine hundred
and fifty men were assembled at San Lucar, eager to
embark. Many of these were sons of the wealthy
nobles, who were thoroughly equipped in splendid
style, with costly armor, and accompanied by a train
of servants.
Twenty-four ecclesiastics, of various grades, joined
the expedition, whose arduous task it was to convert the
natives to that religion of the Spaniards which allowed
them to rob their houses and their temples, to mal¬
treat their wives and daughters, to set fire to their
villages, to hunt them down with bloodhounds, and to
trample them under the iron hoofs of their fiery steeds.
Never before had an expedition set out so abun¬
dantly supplied. Not only was every necessity pro-
P *
vided for, but luxury and even wasteful extravagance
reigned through the armament. De Soto himself
was a man of magnificent tastes. Many who were
with him in Peru, - and had become there enriched,
had joined the enterprise. And the young nobles of
Spain surrounded themselves with the conveniences
♦
r
and splendor which large wealth could furnish
CHAPTER IX.
The Landing in Florida
The Departure from Spain,—Arrival in Cuba.—Leonora and To-
bar.—Isabella Invested with the Regency.—Sad Life of Isabella.—
Sailing of the Expedition.—The Landing at Tampa Bay.—Out¬
rages of Narvaez.—Noble Spirit of Ucita.—Unsuccessful Enter¬
prises.—Disgrace and Return of Porcallo.
w
\
i
The brilliant armament spread its sails to a favor¬
able breeze at the port of San Lucar, on the morning
of the sixth of April, 1538. The squadron consisted
of seven large ships, and three smaller vessels. It
*
must have been an imposing and busy scene in that
little bay, upon which the sun looked serenely down
three hundred years ago. In addition to the Flo¬
ridian fleet, there was another squadron of twenty-six
sail, at the same time weighing anchor, bound for
Mexico. Bugle peals resounded from ship and shore,
while salvoes of artillery swept over the waves and
reverberated among the cliffs.
Isabella accompanied her husband, and quite an
imposing train of attendants was attached to the gov¬
ernor’s family. The sail of a fortnight brought them
to the Canary Islands. The Count Gomera, a Span¬
ish nobleman, was in command. No religious scru«
THE LANDING IN FLORIDA.
145
pies lent their restraints to his luxurious court. He
had a very beautiful daughter, seventeen years of age,
4
named Leonora. The father loved her tenderly. He
was perhaps anxious to shield her from the deleteri¬
ous influences with which she was surrounded. The
high moral worth of Isabella impressed him ; and
arrangements were made for Leonora to accompany
Isabella to Cuba, as a companion, to be treated in all
respects as her own daughter.
On the twenty-fourth of April the fleet again set
sail, and reached St. Jago de Cuba the latter part of
May. This city was then the capital of the island.
It was situated on the southern shore, at the head of
St /
■ 1
a bay running inland about six miles. It was then
quite populous, and was opulent with the wealth of
which previous Spanish adventurers had robbed the
unhappy Cubans. The whole city turned out with
music, and banners and gorgeous processions, to give
<8
a suitable reception to their new governor.
A grand tournament was held on the occasion.
Among the cavaliers who were contending for the
prizes there was a young nobleman, Nuno de Tobar,
who was De Soto’s lieutenant-general. He was one
of the most accomplished of the Spanish grandees,
and bore off many of the prizes. The beauty of Leo¬
nora won his admiration. The)'were thrown much
together, and he betrayed her. At the confessional
7
♦
DE SOTO.
Leonora opened her heart to the priest It is proba¬
ble that he communicated with the governor. De
Soto’s indignation was thoroughly roused. He sum¬
moned the culprit before him. Tobar, deeming his
offense a very trivial one, without hesitation acknowl¬
edged it, thinking, perhaps, that he might receive
some slight reprimand. He was not a little surprised
f
when the governor said in indignant tones :
• 4
“ Leonora was placed under my care by her
father. I pledged myself to protect her at the hazard
of my own life. To-morrow morning you must meet
me in single combat, where you will have a chance to
protect the life you have justly forfeited.”
There was no man probably, in the whole Spanish
army, who could safely cross swords with De Soto in
mortal strife. Tobar was appalled. He well knew
that in such a rencontre death was his inevitable
doom. Overwhelmed with confusion, he said:
t
“ I have not committed a capital crime. If I had,
I should not expect your Excellency to be my execu¬
tioner. It is impossible for me to contend with you
in single combat. By accepting your challenge, I
doom myself to certain destruction.”
De Soto replied: “ Your crime is not a trivial
one. You cannot evade the consequences by refus¬
ing to meet them. To say nothing of the wrong you
$
have done this unhappy girl, your treachery to m«
*
THE LANDING IN FLORIDA. 147
deserves the punishment of a traitor. You may
choose whether you will die like a soldier, sword in
hand, or like a criminal, under the axe of the execu¬
tioner.”
Tobar withdrew. He hastened to the room of the
confessor. With him he. called upon Leonora, and,
taking a few witnesses, repaired to the church, where
the marriage ceremony was immediately performed.
Within an hour he returned to the governor and
informed him that he had made all the reparation in
his power. De Soto, his brow still clouded with
%
severe displeasure, replied:
You have saved your life, but you can never
regain my confidence. You are no longer my lieu¬
tenant. That office can be held only by one whose
honor is unsullied.”
De Soto remained about three months in Cuba,
x
i
making a tour of the island, establishing his govern¬
Cc
ment
While thus
tions for the expedition to Florida,
engaged, he sent a vessel, with a picked crew, to
coast along the shores of the land he was about to
invade, in search of a commodious harbor, where his
troops might disembark. After many perilous adven¬
tures-, the vessel returned with a satisfactory report.
The fleet, and all the armament it was to bear,
were rendezvoused at Havana, on the northern coast
148
DE SOTO.
of Cuba, where a fair wind in a few hours would con¬
vey them to the shores of Florida. On the twelfth
of May, some authorities say the eighteenth, of the
year 1539, the expedition set sail upon one of the
most disastrous adventures in which heroic men ever
engaged. Terrible as were the woes they inflicted
upon the natives, no less dreadful were the calamities
which they drew down upon themselves. •
Isabella had been anxious to accompany her hus¬
band to Florida. But he, aware of the hardships and
perils to which they would be exposed, would not
give his consent. She consequently remained at
Cuba, entrusted with the regency of the island. She
Poor Isabella! In
never saw her husband again.
sadness she had waited fifteen years for her nuptials.
dream
night.
And
iety, during which she heard almost nothing of her
husband, the tidings reached her of his death. It was
a fatal blow to her faithful and loving heart. World-
weary and sorrow-crushed, she soon followed him to
£
the spirit-land. Such is life; not as God has appoint¬
ed it, but as sin has made it.
The expedition consisted of eight large ships, a
caraval, and two brigantines. They were freighted
with everything which could be deemed needful to
conquer the country, and then to colonize it. The
t
THE LANDING IN FLORIDA.
149
force embarked, in addition to the sailors who worked
the ships, consisted of a thousand thoroughly armed
men, and three hundred and fifty horses. Contrary
winds gave them a slow passage across the gulf. O11
the twenty-fifth of May they entered the harbor of
which they were in search. It was on the western
4
coast of the magnificent peninsula. De Soto then
gave it the name of Espiritu Santo. It is now how-
k
ever known as Tampa Bay.
. i« *
As they entered the harbor beacon fires were seen
blazing along the eminences, indicating that the
natives had taken the alarm, and were preparing for
resistance. Several days were employed in cautious
sounding of the harbor and searching for a suitable
landing-place, as it seemed probable that opposition
was to be encountered. On the last day of May, a
detachment of three hundred soldiers landed on the
f
beach and took possession of the land in the name of
Charles the Fifth. The serene day was succeeded
by a balmy night. Not an Indian was to be seen;
and the bloom, luxuriance and fruitage of the tropics,
spread enchantingly around them.
The hours of the night passed away undisturbed.
But just before dawn a terrific war-whoop resounded
through the forest, as from a thousand throats, and a
band of Indian warriors came rushing down, hurling
upon the invaders a shower of arrows and javelins.
DE SOTO.
ISO
The attack was so sudden and impetuous that the
Spaniards were thrown into a panic. They rushed
for their boats, and with loudest bugle peals, called
■ for aid from their companions in the ships. The
summons met with a prompt response. Boats were
immediately lowered, and a large party of steel-clad
men and horses were sent to their aid.
When Nufio Tobar was degraded, and dismissed
from his office as lieutenant-general, a rich, hair¬
brained Spanish nobleman, by the name of Vasco
Porcallo, took his place. He was a gay cavalier,
brave even to recklessness, of shallow intellect, but a
man who had seen much hard service in the battle¬
fields of those days. He was very rich, residing at
N
Trinidad in Cuba. He joined the enterprise for the
conquest of Florida, influenced by an instinctive love
of adventure, and by the desire to kidnap Indians to
work as slaves on his plantations. The valiant Por¬
callo headed the party sent to the rescue of those on
shore.
In such an adventure he was entirely in his ele¬
ment. Immediately upon landing he put spurs to his
horse and, accompanied by only seven dragoons, with
his sabre flashing in the air, plunged into the very
thickest of the Indians,
flight.
Soon they were put
An
and its housings, and reached the vitals of his horse
THE LANDING IN FLORIDA. 151
The noble steed dropped dead beneath him. Por-
callo was quite proud of his achievement, and boasted
not a little that his arm had put the infidels, as he
called the Indians, to flight, and that his horse was
the first to fall in the encounter.
During the day all the troops were disembarked
and encamped upon the shore. It was reported that
there was quite a populous Indian town at the dis-
tarice of about six miles from the place of landing.
While the ammunition and commissary stores were
being brought on shore, the little army marched for
«•
this village. It was the residence of the chief of the
powerful tribe who occupied that region. His name
was Ucita, and from him the village received the
same appellation.
The Spaniards met with no opposition on their
march. But when they reached the village they
found it entirely deserted. It was quite a large
town, the houses being built substantially of timber,
thatched with palm leaves. Many of these edifices
were large and commodious, containing several
rooms. Their articles of household furniture were
convenient, >and some of them quite elegant. The
dresses, especially those of the females, were artistic
and often highly ornamental. Very beautiful shawls
and mantillas were manufactured by them. Their
finest fabrics were woven by the hand from the
DE SOTO.
IS2
fibrous bark of the mulberry-tree and hemp, which
grew wild and in abundance. The natives had
acquired the art of rich coloring, and the garments
thus manufactured by them were often really beauti¬
ful. The walls of the houses of the wealthier citizens
were hung with tapestry of very softly tanned and
richly prepared buckskin ; and carpets of the same
material were spread upon the floors.
The Floridians were not acquainted with iron.
A
that most indispensable article with nations of high
enlightenment. But they had succeeded in impart¬
ing a temper to copper, so as to give many of their
tools quite a keen edge. Though the inhabitants of
Florida had not attained that degree of civilization
which had been reached by the Peruvians, it will be
seen that they were immeasurably in advance of the
savages in the northern portion of the continent, and
that their homes far surpassed those of the peasantry
of Ireland, and were more tasteful and commodious
than the log huts which European emigrants erect as
their first home in the wilderness of the West. They
cultivated the ground mainly for their subsistence,
1
though hunting and fishing were resorted to, then as
now, for recreation as well as for food.
De Soto took possession of the deserted village,
and occupied the houses of the inhabitants jas bar¬
racks for his soldiers. A few straggling Indiana
THE LANDING IN FLORIDA. 1 53
were taken captive. From them he learned that he
was doomed to suffer for the infamous conduct of the
Spanish adventurer, Narvaez, who had preceded him
in a visit to this region. This vile man had been
guilty of the most inhuman atrocities. He had caused
the mother of the chief Ucita to be torn to pieces by
bloodhounds, and in a transport of passion had aw¬
fully mutilated Ucita himself, by cutting off his nose.
Consequently, the chief and all his people were exas¬
perated to the highest degree. The injuries they had
received were such as could never be forgiven or for¬
gotten.
De Soto was very anxious to cultivate friendly
relations with the Indians. Whatever may have been
his faults, his whole career thus far had shown him to
A |
be by nature a kind-hearted and upright man, hating
I
oppression and loving justice. The faults of his
character rather belonged to the age in which ha
lived, than to the individual man. No military leader
has ever yet been able to restrain the passions of his
&
soldiers. Wherever an army moves, there will always
be, to a greater or less degree, plunder and violence.
De Soto earnestly endeavored to introduce strict dis¬
cipline among his troops. He forbade the slightest
act of injustice or disrespect towards the Indians.
Whenever a captive was taken, he treated him as a
father would treat a child, and returned him to hit
3*
•I
PE SOTO.
154
home laden with presents. He availed himself of
every opportunity to send friendly messages to Ucita.
But the mutilated chief was in no mood to t'e pla¬
cated. His only reply to these kind words was,
“ x want none of the speeches or promises of the
Spaniards. Bring me their heads and I will receive
them joyfully.”
The energies of De Soto inspired his whole camp.
The provisions and munitions of war weie promptly
landed and conveyed to Ucita. The place was
strongly fortified, and a hardy veteran, named Pedro
Caldeion, was placed in command of the garrison
entrusted with its defence. All the large ships were
sent back to Cuba, probably to obtain fresh supplies
of military stores ; some say that it was to teach the
army that, there being no possibility of escape, it now
must depend upon its own valor for existence.
De Soto was very unwilling to set out for a march
into the interior for discovery and in search of gold,
while leaving so powerful a tribe as that over which
Ucita reigned, in hostility behind him. He therefore
sent repeated messages to Ucita expressing his utter
detestation of the conduct of Narvaez; his desire to
do everything in his power to repair the wrong which
had been inflicted upon him, and his earnest wish to
establish friendly relations with the deeply-injured
chief.
THE LANDING IN FLORIDA.
155
These reiterated friendly advances, ever accom¬
panied by correspondent action, at length in some
slight degree mitigated the deadly rancor of Ucita,
so that instead of returning a message of defiance
and hate, he sent back the truly noble response :
I
u
me
messages
1
/
courtesy is such that it will not allow me to return a
harsh answer.”
The man who, under these circumstances, could
frame such a reply, must have been one of nature’s
noblemen. De Soto could appreciate the grandeur
of such a spirit. While these scenes were transpir¬
ing, a man was brought into the camp, in Indian cos¬
tume, who announced himself as a Spaniard by the
name of Juan Ortiz. He had been one of the ad¬
venturers under Narvaez. In the extermination of
that infamous band he had been taken captive and
bound to the stake, to be consumed. He was then
but eighteen years of age, tall and very handsome.
As the tongues of torturing flame began to eat into
4
his quivering flesh, cries of agony were extorted
from him. '
He was in the hands of a powerful chief, whose
daughter is represented as a very beautiful princess, by
the name of Uleleh. She was about sixteen years of age,
%
and could not endure the scene. She threw her arma
DE SOTO.
156
around her father’s neck, and with tears of anguish
pleaded that his life might be saved. He was res¬
cued ; and though for a time he suffered extreme
cruelty, he eventually became adopted, as it were,
into the tribe, and for ten years had resided among the
Indians, sometimes regarded as a captive, upon whom
heavy burdens could be imposed, and again treated
with great kindness. Juan Ortiz being thus familiar
with the habits of the natives and their language,
became an invaluable acquisition to the adventurers.
De Soto inquired very earnestly of him respecting
the country and the prospect of finding any region
abounding with silver and gold. Ortiz had but little
information to give, save that, at the distance of about'
a hundred miles from where they then were, there
was a great chief named Uribaracaxi, to whom all the
adjacent chiefs were tributary. His realms were rep¬
resented as far more extensive, populous, and rich
than those of the surrounding chieftains. De Soto
dispatched a band of sixty horsemen and sixty foot sol¬
diers with presents and messages of friendship to Uri¬
baracaxi. The object of the expedition was to explore
the country and to make inquiries respecting gold.
A weary march of about forty miles brought the
party to the village of Mucozo, where Ortiz had
resided for some years. The chief of this tribe,
whose name was also Mucozo, was brother-in-law to
THE LANDING IN FLORIDA.
157
Uribjtt-acaxi. Mucozo received the Spaniards with
great hospitality, and learning that they were on a
friendly visit to Uribaracaxi, furnished them with a
guide. Four days were occupied in a tedious march
through a country where pathless morasses continu¬
ally embarrassed their progress.
This k xpedition was under the command of Bal¬
thazar de Gallegos. He reached his point of destina¬
tion in Si fety. But the chief, deeming it not pru¬
dent to trust himself in the hands of the Spaniards,
whose remwn for fiendish deeds had filled the land,
had retired from his capital, and nearly all the inhab¬
itants had fled with him. He left for his uninvited
ft
guests no message either of welcome or defiance.
Gallegos found all his attempts to open any communi-
There was no plunder
cations with him unavailing:.
o
in the city worth seizing, and De Soto’s commands to
the expedition were veiy strict, to treat the Indians
with the utmost kindness and humanity.
Gallegos made earnest inquiries of the Indians
whom he met, as to the provinces where gold and sil¬
ver could be found. They told him that there was a
countiy many leagues west of them, of marvellous
luxuriance and beauty, where gold was found in such
abundance that the warriors had massive shields and
helmets made of that precious metal. The more
shrewd of the Spaniards placed very little reliance
158
DE SOTO.
upon this testimony. They thought they saw evi-
f
dence that the , Indians were ready to fabricate any
story by which they could rid themselves of their
• •
visitors.
Soon after the departure of ‘Gallegos, De Soto
received the intelligence that
Ucita
taken refuge in a forest, surrounded with swamps
not far from the
camp
The vainglorious
Porcallo was exceedingly indignant that the Indian
chief should presume to hold himself aloof from all
friendly advances. He entreated De Soto to grant
him the privilege of capturing the fugitive. De Soto
complied with his request. The impetuous old man,
fond of parade, and lavish of his wealth, selected a
band of horsemen and footmen, all of whom were gor¬
geously apparelled for the occasion. He, himself, was
mounted on a magnificent steed and cased in glitter¬
ing armor.
It seems that the noble Ucita kept himself well
informed of every movement of the invaders. With
a spirit of magnanimity which would have done honor
m
to the best Christian in the Spanish ranks, he sent a
courier to meet Porcallo, and to say to him,
‘'You wall only expose yourself to infinite peril
from the rivers, morasses, and forests through which
1
you will have to pass in your attempt to reach my
retreat. My position is so secure that all your
THE LANDING IN FLORIDA. 159
I
attempts to take me will result only in your own loss.
I do not send you this message from any fears on my
own account, but because your leader, De Soto, has
*
manifested so much forbearance in not injuring my
territory or my subjects.”
It is really refreshing to find here and there,
among all these demoniac deeds of demoniac men,
some remaining traces of that nobility of character
which man had before the fall, when created in God’s
image he was but little lower than the angels. Man,
as we see him developed in history, is indeed a ruin,
but the ruin of a once noble fabric. When we think
N
of what man might be, in all generous affections, and
then think of what man is, it is enough to cause one
r
to weep tears of blood.
Porcallo could not appreciate the magnanimity of
Ucita. He regarded the message as one of the strat¬
agems of war, dictated either by fear or cowardice.
He therefore ordered the trumpets to sound the
m
advance, his only fear being, that the chief might
escape. Porcallo, a Quixotic knight, had no element
of timidity in his character. He led his troops. He
never said “Go,” but “Follow.” Pressing rapidly
forward, the little band soon arrived upon the border
w
of a vast and dismal morass, utterly pathless, stretch¬
ing out many leagues in extent.
The hot-headed cavalier, thinking that the swamp
i6o
DE SOTO.
might be waded, put spurs to his horse and dashed
forward. He had advanced but a few rods when the
horse, struggling knee-deep through the mire, stum¬
bled and fell. One of the legs of the rider was so
caught beneath the animal as to pin him inextricably
in the morass, covering him with water and with mud.
The weight of his armor sank him deeper in the
mire, and in the desperate struggles of the steed for
extrication, he was in great danger of being suffocated.
None could come to his aid without danger of being
swallowed up in the bog.
The unfeeling and brutal soldiers stood upon the
borders of the morass with shouts of merriment, as
they witnessed the sudden discomfiture of their
k
leader; a discomfiture the more ludicrous, in con¬
trast with his gorgeous attire, and his invariably
proud and lofty bearing. At length Porcallo extri¬
cated himself, and, drenched with water, and covered
with mud, led his equally bemired steed to the land.
He was humiliated and enraged. The derision of the
soldiers stung him to the quick. He had embarked
in the expedition to gain glory and slaves. He had
encountered disgrace ; and the prospect of kidnap-
1
ping the natives, under such a leader as De Soto had
proved himself to be, was very small.
It is probable that before this disaster he had seri¬
ously contemplated abandoning the expedition and
r*
THE LANDING IN FLORIDA.
returning to his princely mansion in Trinidad. Or¬
dering his men to face about, he sullenly and silently
returned to the Spanish camp. Throwing up his
commission with disgust, he embarked for Cuba, and
we hear of him no more.
“His train of servants,” writes Mr. Theodore
Irving, “ Spanish, Indian and negro, were embarked
with all speed. But when the gallant old cavalier
came to take leave of his young companions in arms,
and the soldiers he had lately aspired to lead so vain-
gloriously, his magnificent spirit broke forth. He
made gifts to the right and left, dividing among the
officers and knights all the arms, accoutrements,
horses and camp equipage, with which he had come
so lavishly and so ostentatiously provided, and gave,
for the use of the army, all the ample store of provi¬
sions and munitions brought for the use of himself
and his retinue. This done, he bade farewell to cam¬
paigning and set sail for Cuba, much to the regret of
the army, who lamented that so gallant a spirit
I
should have burned out so soon.” %
Indeed, it is stated in what is called “ The Portu¬
guese Narrative ” of these events, that Porcallo and
De Soto had already quarrelled so decisively that
they were no longer on speaking terms. Porcallo,
9
thoroughly destitute of moral principle, was a slave
* Conquest of Florida, by Theodore Ii'ving, p. 81 .
162
DE SOTO.
hunter; a character whom De Soto thoroughly de¬
spised, and whose operations he would not on any
account allow to be carried on in his army. Porcallo
therefore found no difficulty in obtaining permission
to retire from the service. Probably both the gov¬
ernor and his lieutenant were equally happy to be rid
of each other.
I
k
The March to 0chile.
4
The March Commenced.—The Swamps of Florida.—Passage of the
Morass,—Heroism of Silvestre.—Message to Acuera.—His He-
roic Reply.—Fierce Hostility of the Indians.—Enter the Town of
Ocali.—Strange Incident—Death of the Bloodhound.—Historical
Discrepancies.—Romantic Entrance to 0chile.
n
The day after the departure of Porcallo, a courier
from Captain Gallegos, accompanied by a small
guard, came to the Spanish camp at Ucita. He
informed De Soto that there was an ample supply of
provisions at Uribaracaxi to sustain the army for sev¬
eral days ; and that he had received information that
at not a great distance from that place large quanti¬
ties of gold could be obtained. De Soto and his
companions were greatly elated by these tidings,
trusting that they were about to enter upon another
Peru. A garrison of forty horsemen and eighty foot
soldiers, was left at Ucita, to protect the military and
commissariat stores collected there, and to guard the
three vessels still remaining in the bay. Captain
Calderon, who was left in command, was strictly
enjoined to treat the Indians with the utmost kind-
%
DE SOTO.
mere
to
164
ness, and not to make war upon them, even if pro¬
voked by taunts and insults.
De Soto, then, with the main body of his army,
set out on the march for Uribaracaxi. It Wets soon
very evident to him that lie was not in Pent,
was no smoothly-paved highway for his soldiers
traverse. The country was pathless, rough, appar¬
ently uninhabited, encumbered w r ith tangled forests,
and' vast dismal swamps. It was a very arduous
enterprise for soldiers burdened with heavy armor to
force their way through such a wilderness, with the
baggage essential to such a body of men.
One of the great objects of the governor, and a
humane one, was to establish a colony in Florida.
A herd of three hundred swine was kept in the line
of march, as these animals were deemed
advantageous stock for new settlers. After a toil¬
some march of two days they reached the native vil-
lage of Mucozo, where the friendly chief of the same
name resided. It is said that this place is now called
Hichipuchsassa. The chief received them with great
hospitality.
Pressing on without delay, they soon reached
most
U ribaraeaxi
stream
empties into Tampa Bay. The chief was stHI absent,
in his ulace of refuge, amidst the fastnesses of the tor-
THE MARCH TO OCHILE.
165
cst. All of De Soto’s friendly endeavors to draw
him from
The Span¬
iards were yet to traverse many leagues of this
unknown country before they could enter the region
where it was supposed the gold could be found.
Florida is emphatically a region of swamps.
There is probably no section of our country which,
difficult
passage of an army. About nine miles from the village,
directly on their line of march, extending far away to
the east and the west, there was a vast bog three
miles wide.
mud and
over
water, with gigantic trees and entangling roots.*
After long search a passage was found through
ft
which, by the toilsome efforts of a whole day, the
army forced its way. Beyond the swamp there
opened before them a smooth, luxuriant flower-enam¬
elled prairie. Rejoicingly the army pressed forward
this beautiful expanse, when suddenly they found
their steps again arrested by a series of sluggish
streams, stagnant bayous, and impenetrable bogs.
De Soto now took a hundred horse and a h un dred
foot soldiers, and leaving the remainder of the army
safely encamped, set out to explore the country in
search of a practicable route of travel. For three days
he skirted the region of bogs, lakes and thickets, send¬
ing out his runners in different directions to find some
166
DE SOTO
outlet. But there was no outlet for the j ourneyings
of civilized men. They captured some Indians, who
offered to guide them, but who treacherously led
them to more difficult passes and into ambushes
where many of their horses were slain. The dread¬
ful punishment of these false guides was to be torn to
pieces by bloodhounds. They bore their sufferings
with amazing fortitude.
At length they found a very rude, difficult and
dangerous path by which the Indians crossed these
swamps. At one point,where the water could not be
l
forded for a distance of nearly three hundred feet, the
Indians had constructed a bridge by cutting down
two large trees and uniting the space that still re¬
mained between them in this Stygian lake, by tying
logs together, with cross^poles for flooring. To add
to the embarrassments of the Spaniards, apparently
innumerable small bands of Indians were hovering on
their track, assailing them with their sharp-pointed
arrows, wherever they could get a shot, and then es¬
caping into the impenetrable region around. They
were very careful never to come to an open conflict.
Canoes, propelled by the paddle, would often dart out
from the thickets, a shower of arrows be discharged,
and the canoes disappear where no foot could follow
them.
A very bold courier, on one of the fleetest horses,
4
THE MARCH TO OCIIILE.
167
was sent back to summon the main body of the array
to march, under the command of Moscoso, and join
4
the party of explorers which De Soto had led. This
young man, by the name of Silvestre, accomplished
his feat through a thousand perils and hair-breadth
escapes.
Three days De Soto’s band had “passed struggling
through bog and brake, bramble and forest. Sylves-
#
f
tre was to find his path back travelling with all possi¬
ble speed by night as well as by day. One attendant
only was with him, Juan Lopez. They never could
have found their path but through the sagacity of their
horses. These noble animals seemed to be endowed
for the time with the instinct of setter dogs. For in
the darkness of the night they would puff and snort,
with their noses close to the ground, ever, under the
most difficult circumstances, finding the track. The
distance over which they urged their horses exceeded
thirty miles. For three days the poor creatures had
not been unsaddled, and the bits had but occasionally
been removed from their mouths that they might
enjoy the brief refreshment of grazing.
a
Mr. Irving
in sight of huge fires, around which the savages were
stretched in wild fantastic groups, or capering and
M .
singing, and making the forests ring with yells and
bowlings. These were probably celebrating their
168
DE SOTO.
feasts with war-dances. The deafening din they raised
was the safeguard of the two Spaniards, as it pre¬
vented the savages noticing the clamorous barking of
their dogs, and hearing the tramping of the horses as
they passed.” *
Immediately on the arrival of these two bold
troopers, Moscoso dispatched supplies for the gov¬
ernor with an escort of thirty horsemen. In the mean
time the troops under De Soto were nearly perishing
with hunger. They were compelled to leave their
encampment in search of food. Fortunately, at no
great distance, they found a beautiful valley, waving
luxuriantly with fields of corn or maize. Here they
encamped and here were soon joined by the escort
welcome
Moscoso
came also with the residue of the army. They were
about.sixty miles north of Uribaracaxi. It is sup-
name
of Palaklikaha.
Acuera
people had fled to the woods. De Soto sent Indian
interpreters to him with friendly messages and the
declaration tnnt the Spaniards had no desire to do
*
him any injury; but that it was their power, if the In-
them
He also commissioned
* Conquest of Florida, p. 89.
THE MARCH TO OCIIILE.
which to him undoubtedly seemed perfectly just and
reasonable, but which, to our more enlightened minds,
seems atrocious in the extreme, that it was their only
object to bring him and his people into obedience to
their lawful sovereign, the king of Spain. With this
r
end in view, he invited the chief to a friendly inter¬
view. It can hardly be doubted that in that benighted
age De Soto felt that he was acting the part of a just
and humane man, and of a Christian, in extending the
Christian reign of Spain over the heathen realms of
Florida. Acuera returned the heroic reply :
“ Others of your accursed race have, in years past,
poisoned our peaceful shores. They have taught me
what you are. What is your employment ? To wan¬
der about like vagabonds from land to land; to rob
the poor ; to betray the confiding ; to murder in cold
blood the defenceless. With such a people I want no
peace—no friendship. War, never-ending, extermi¬
nating war, is all the boon I ask. You boast yourself
valiant; and so you may be, but my faithful warriors
are not less brave ; and this, too, you shall one day
prove, for I have sworn to maintain an unsparing
conflict while one white man remains in my borders;
not openly, in battle, though even thus we fear not to
meet you, but by stratagem, and ambush, and mid¬
night surprisals. I am king in my own land, and will
never become the vassal of a mortal like myself. Aa
170
DE SOTO.
for me and my people, we choose death, yes a hun*
dred deaths, before the. loss of our liberty and the
subjugation of our country.”
This answer certainly indicates a degree of intelli-
♦
gence and mental culture far above what we should
expect to find in the chief of a tribe of Florida In¬
dians. The chivalric spirit of De Soto compelled him
♦
to admire the heroism it displayed. He consequently
#
redoubled his efforts to gain the friendship of the
chief, but all in vain. For twenty days De Soto re¬
mained in this encampment, recruiting his troops and
making arrangements for a farther advance. The
Indians made constant warfare upon him, lurking in
the thickets which densely surrounded his camp. . No
Spaniard could wander one hundred steps without
danger of being shot down by an invisible foe, whose
deadly arrow was more noiseless in its flight than the
sighing of the breeze through the tree tops. In this
way, during these twenty days, fourteen Spaniards
were killed and many more wounded. Fifty Indians
also fell struck by the bullets of the invaders. De Soto
allowed himself only in a war of self-defence. He
4
strictly prohibited his followers from doing any injury
to the villages or the property of the natives, or of
engaging in the slightest act of violence towards any
who were not in active hostility against them.
After twenty days of such repose as could be
THE MARCH TO OCHILE. 171
found in this war harassed camp, De Soto resumed
his march. He directed the steps of his army in a
northeasterly direction towards a town called Ocali,
about sixty miles from their encampment. It seems
that in most, if not all of this region, the chief and
bis principal town bore the same name.
y
The path of the army led just over a dreary ex¬
panse of desert sands, about thirty miles broad. There
was no underbrush, and over the smooth surface both
men and horses could travel with the greatest ease.
They then entered upon a beautiful region of fertility
and luxuriance. Fields of corn waved their graceful
I
leaves and bannered heads in the breeze. Farm
houses and pleasant villages were scattered around,
indicating that peace, with its nameless blessings,
reigned there. They reached the central town,
Ocali, and found it to consist of six hundred sub¬
stantially built houses. This would give the place a
population of probably not less than three thousand.
But the chief, Ocali, and his principal inhabitants,
with their effects, had fled to the forests. The Span¬
ish army immediately took up its quarters in the
dwellings of Ocali. They found here an ample sup¬
ply of provisions, which they seem without any ques¬
tionings to have appropriated to their own use. The
clime was balmy, the region beautiful, the houses
commodious, the food abundant, and the few Indians
1JT2
DE SOTO.
who remaiaed behind manifested no hostility. The
common soldiers, following the example of their leader,
treated all with great kindness.
De Soto sent several Indian messengers daily to
the retreat of the chief with proffers of peace and
friendship. Though Ocali rejected all these over¬
tures, it seems that they must have made an impres¬
sion on the minds of some of his followers
One day, four young Floridian warriors, gorge¬
ously dressed and with nodding plumes, came to the
Spanish camp. De Soto received them with great
cordiality and invited them to a handsome collation
with his principal officers. Mr. Irving, in his well au¬
thenticated narrative, gives the following account of
the scene which there ensued:
“ They sat down and appeared to be eating quiet¬
ly, when perceiving the Spaniards to be off their
guard, they rose suddenly and rushed full speed to
the woods. It was in vain for the Spaniards to pur¬
sue them on foot, and there was no horse at hand. A
hound of uncommon sagacity, however, hearing the
cry of the Indians, and seeing them run, pursued
them. Overtaking and passing by the first and sec¬
ond and third, he sprang upon the shoulders of the
foremost and pulled him to the ground ; as the next
Indian passed on, the dog, leaving the one already
down, sprang upon his successor and secured him in
THE MARCH TO OCHILE. 1 73
the same way. In like manner he served the third
and fourth, and then kept running from one to the
other, pulling them down as fast as they rose, and
barking so furiously that the Indians were terrified
and confounded and the Spaniards were enabled to
overtake and capture them. They were taken back
to the camp and examined separately. For as they
were armed, the Spaniards apprehended some treach¬
ery ; but it appeared that their sudden flight was only
by way of exploit, to show their address and fleet-
a
11
ness. -
Ocali, after resisting for six days all friendly ad¬
vances, was at length induced to visit the Spanish
i
camp. He was received by De Soto with the great
est kindness, and every effort was made to win his
confidence. There was a deep and wide river near
the village which it was necessary for the Spaniards
to cross in their advance. De Soto, accompanied by
Ocali and several of his subjects, was walking on the-
banks of this stream to select a spot for crossing, by
means of a bridge or raft, when a large number of
Indians sprang up from the bushes on the opposite
♦
side, and assailing them with insulting and reproach¬
ful language, discharged a volley of arrows upon
them, by which one of the Spaniards was wounded.
Upon De Soto’s demanding of the chief the mean*
* Irving’s Conquest of Florida, p. ioo. •
174 DE SOTO.
mg of this hostile movement, Ocali replied, that the}
were a collection of his mutinous subjects, who had
renounced their allegiance to him, in consequence of
. his friendship for the Spaniards. The bloodhound,
to which we have alluded, that had so sagaciously
captured the four Floridians, was in the company
held in a leash by one of the servants of the governor.
The moment the ferocious animal heard the yells of
the Indians, and witnessed their hostile actions, by a
desperate struggle he broke from his keeper and
plunged into the river. In vain the Spaniards en¬
deavored to call him back. The Indians eagerly
watched his approach, and as he drew near they
*
showered upon him such a volley of arrows, that more
than fifty pieiced his head and. shoulders. He barely
reached the land, when he fell dead. The army
mourned the loss of the sagacious, fearless and
meiciless brute as if he had been one of the most
valiant of their warriors.
It soon became evident that Ocali bad but slight
influence over his tribe. De Soto, apprehensive that
it might be thought that he detained him against his
Spanish camp. He left, and they saw him no more.
%
Crossing the river by a rude bridge constructed
by the Spanish engineers, De Soto took the lead with
, THE MARCH TO OCHILE. 175
a hundred horse and a hundred foot. After a mon¬
otonous march of three days over a flat country, they
*
came to a very extensive province called Vitachuco,
which was governed in common by three brothers.
The principal village, Ochile, was rather a fortress
than a village, consisting of fifty large buildings
strongly constructed of timber. It was a frontier mil¬
itary post; for it seems that this powerful tribe was
continually embroiled in war with the adjacent prov¬
inces. Mr. Williams, in his History of Florida, lo¬
cates Ochile just south of what is called the Allachua
prairie.
There are two sources of information upon which
we are dependent for most of the facts here recorded.
One is, the “ History of Hernando De Soto,” written
by the Inca Garcilaso de la Vega. He was the son of
a Spanish nobleman and of a Peruvian lady of illus¬
trious rank. His narrative was written as related to
him, by a friend who was one of the expedition.
With some probable exaggerations it is generally
deemed authentic. Mr. Southey describes the work
as one of the most delightful in the Spanish lan-
The other is what is called “ The Portuguese Nar-
lative.”
anonymous
who declares himself to have been a Spanish cavalier,
and that he describes the scenes of which he was as
i
176
DE SOTO.
eye-witness. Though these two accounts generally
harmonize, there is at times very considerable dis¬
crepancy between their statements. In the extraor¬
dinary events now to be chronicled, the writer has
generally endeavored to give the narrative, as has
seemed to him most probable, in comparing the two
accounts, with the well-established character of De
Soto.
The advance guard of tile Spanish army marched
all night, and just before the dawn of the morning,
entered the silent streets of Ochile. Wishing to pro¬
duce as deep an impression as possible upon the.
minds of the Indians, their drums were beat, and
their trumpets emitted their loudest blasts, as one
hundred horsemen with clattering hoofs, and one
hundred footmen with resounding arms, startled the
citizens from their repose. To these simple natives,
it must have been a scene almost as astounding as if
a legion of adventurers, from the star Sirius, were at
midnight to make their appearance in the streets of
a European city.
The house of the chief was centrally situated. It
was a large mansion, nearly three hundred feet in
length by one hundred and twenty in width. There
were also connected with it quite a number of out¬
buildings of very considerable dimensions.
As a matter of course, immediately the whole
THE MARCH TO OC 1 IILE.
177
population was in the streets in a state of utter
amazement It was the object of De Soto to appear
in such strength, and to take such commanding posi-
* 1
tions, as would prevent any assault on the part of the
Indians, which would lead to bloodshed. He was
well informed of the warlike reputation of the chief
who resided there; and knew that in that fortress he
was surrounded by a numerous band of warriors, ever
armed and always ready for battle. The region
around was densely populated. Should the chief es¬
cape, determined upon hostility, and rally his troops
around him, it might lead to sanguinary scenes,
greatly to be deplored.
De Soto immediately held an interview with the
i
chief; treated him with the utmost kindness and as¬
sured him that he had no intention of inflicting any
injury upon him or any of his subjects ; that he
sought only for permission to pass peaceably and un-
b
molested through his realms. The soldiers were
strictly enjoined to treat the natives in the most
friendly manner, and not to allow themselves, by any
• provocation whatever, to be drawn into a conflict.
The chief was very narrowly watched, that he
might not escape. Still he was unconscious of his
captivity, for he was held by invisible chains.
During the following day the main body of the
army entered 0chile with
all the pomp which prancing
8 *
DE SOTO.
178
horses richly accoutred, gorgeous uniforms, bugle-
blasts, waving banners, and glittering armor could
present. Ocile, its chief, and his warriors were at the
mercy of the Spaniards. But they had come not as
conquerors, but as peaceful travellers, with smiles and
presents, and kindly words. Still the power of these
uninvited guests was very manifest, and it was very
evident that any hostility on the part of the natives
would bring down upon them swift destruction.
It so happened, that the youngest of the three
brother chiefs resided at Ochile. At the suggestion
of De Soto, he sent couriers to his two brothers, in¬
forming them of the arrival of the Spaniards, of their
friendly disposition, and of their desire simply to pass
through the country unmolested. At the same time
1.
he stated, by request of De Soto, that the strength of
the Spaniards was such that they were abundantly
able to defend themselves ; and that should any at¬
tack be made upon them, it would lead to results
which all would have occasion to deplore.
The capital of the second brother was not far dis¬
tant. In three days he came to Ochile, decorated
in gorgeous robes of state and accompanied by a ret¬
inue of his warriors, in their most showy costume.
It is recorded that he had the bearing of an accom¬
plished gentleman, and seemed as much at ease
amidst the wondrous surroundings of the Spanish
THE MARCH TO OCHILE. 179
H
camp is if he had been accustomed to them all his
days. He entered into the most friendly relations
with i)e Soto and his distinguished officers, and
seemed very cordially to reciprocate all their cour¬
teous attentions.
•j
I
CHAPTER XL *
The Conspiracy and its Consequences.
The Three Brother Chieftains.—Reply of Vitachuco to his Brothers.
Feigned Friendship for the Spaniards.—The Conspiracy.—Its
Consummation and Results.—Clemency of I 3 e Soto.— The Second
—March of the Spaniards
Conspiracy,
fm* Osachile
Slaughter of the Indians
/Rattle in the Morass.
Of the three brothers who reigned over this ex-
i
tended territory the elder bore the same name with
the province which he governed, which was Vitachuco.
He was far the most powerful of the three, in both
the extent and populousness of his domain. His two
brothers had united in sending an embassy to him,
earnestly enjoining the expediency of cultivating
friendly relations with the Spaniards. The following
very extraordinary reply, which he returned, is given
by Garcilaso de la Vega. And though he says he
b
quotes from memory, still he pledges his word of hon¬
or, that it is a truthful record of the message Vita¬
chuco sent back. We read it with wonder, as it indi-
b
cates a degree of mental enlightenment, which we had
not supposed could have been found among those
semi-civilized people.
u It is evident,” said the chief to his brother®,
THE CONSPIRACY.
181
** that you are young and have neither judgment
nor experience, or you would never speak as you
4
have done of these hated white men. You extol
them as virtuous men, who injure no one. You say
that they are valiant; are children of the Sun, and
merit all our reverence and service. The vile chains
which they have hung upon you, and the mean and
dastardly spirit which you have acquired during the
short period you have been their slaves, have caused
you to speak like women, lauding what you should
censure and abhor.
“You remember not that these strangers can be
no better than those who formerly committed so
many cruelties in our country. Are they not of the
same nation and subject to the same laws ? Do not
their manner of life and actions prove them to be the
children of the spirit of evil, and not of the Sun and
Moon—our Gods ? Go they not from land to land
plundering and destroying; taking the wives and
daughters of others instead of bringing their own
with them; and like mere vagabonds maintaining
themselves by the laborious toil and sweating brow
of others!
“ Were they virtuous, as you represent, they never
would have left their own country; since there they
might have practised their virtues ; planting and cul¬
tivating the earth, maintaining themselves, without
182
DE SOTO.
prejudice to others or injury to themselves, instead of
4
roving about the world, committing robberies and
murders, having neither the shame of men nor the
Warn
enter
into my dominions. Valiant as they may be, if they
f
dare to put foot upon my soil, they shall never go out
of my land alive.”
De Soto and his army remained eight days at
Ochile. By unwearied kindness, he so won the confi¬
dence of the two brother chiefs, that they went in per¬
son to Vitachuco to endeavor by their united repre¬
sentations to win him to friendly relations with the
Spaniards. Apparently they succeeded, Vitachuco
either became really convinced that he had misjudged
the strangers, or feigned reconciliation. He invited
De Soto and his army to visit his territory, assigning
encampment
val¬
ley. On an appointed day the chief advanced to
meet them, accompanied by his two brothers and
%
five hundred warriors, in the richest decorations and
best armament of military art as then understood by
the Floridians.
De Soto and Vitachuco were about of the same
age and alike magnificent specimens of physical man¬
hood.
meeting
if they had always been friends. The Indian warriors
eworted
encampment
THE CONSPIRACY
183
It consisted of two hundred spacious edi¬
fices, strongl)' built of hewn timber. Several days
were passed in feasting and rejoicing, when Juan Or¬
tiz informed the governor that some friendly Indians
had revealed to him that a plot had been formed, by
Vitachuco,for the entire destruction of the Spanish
army.
The chief was to assemble his warriors, to the
*
number of about ten thousand, upon an extensive
plain, just outside the city, ostensibly to gratify De
Soto with the splendors of a peaceable parade. To
disarm all suspicion, they were to appear without any
weapons of war, which weapons were however pre¬
viously to be concealed in the long grass of the
prairie. De Soto was to be invited to walk out with
the chief to witness the spectacle. Twelve very pow¬
‘ V
erful Indians, with concealed arms, were to accompa¬
ny the chief or to be near at hand. It was supposed
that the pageant would call out nearly all the Span¬
iards, and that they would be carelessly sauntering
over the plain. At a given signal, the twelve Indians
were to rush upon De Soto, and take him captive if
possible, or if it were inevitable, put him to death.
At
moment
warriors, grasping their arms, was to rush upon the
Spaniards in overpowering numbers of ten to one. In
this wav it was sunnosed that everv man could sneed-
1 84 DE SOTO.
*
ily be put to death or captured. Those who were
taken prisoners were to be exposed to the utmost in¬
genuity of Indian torture.
This seemed a very plausible story. Be Soto,
upon careful inquiry, became satisfied of its truth.
He consulted his captains, and decided to be so pre¬
pared for the emergence, that should he be thus at¬
tacked, the Indian chief would fall into the trap which
he had prepared for his victims.
The designated day arrived. The sun rose in a
cloudless sky and a gentle breeze swept the prairie.
Early in the morning, Vitachuco called upon De Soto,
and very obsequiously solicited him to confer upon
him the honor of witnessing a grand muster of his
subjects. He said they would appear entirely un¬
armed, but he wished De Soto to witness their evohi-
1
tionSj that he might compare them with the military
drill of European armies. De Soto, assuming a very
friendly and unsuspicious air, assured the chief, that
he should be very happy to witness the pageant. And
to add to its imposing display, and in his turn to do
something to interest the natives, he said he would
call out his whole force of infantry and cavalry, and
arrange them in full battle array on the opposite s'de
of the plain.
The chief was evidently much embarrassed by this
proposition, but he did not venture to present any K
THE CONSPIRACY.
185
stacles. Knowing the valor and ferocity of his troops,
he still thought that with De Soto as his captive, he
could crush the Spaniards by overwhelming numbers.
»’
Matters being thus arranged, the whole Spanish
army, in its most glittering array, defiled upon the
4
plain. De Soto was secretly well armed. Servants
%
were ready with two of the finest horses to rush to
his aid. A body-guard of twelve of his most stalwart
men loitered carelessly around him.
At nine o’clock in the morning, De Soto and Vita-
I*
chuco walked out, side by side, accompanied by their
few attendants and ascended a slight eminence which
commanded a view of the field. Notwithstanding the
careless air assumed by De Soto, he was watching
every movement of Vitachuco with intensest interest.
The instant the Indian chief gave his signal, his at¬
tendants rushed upon De Soto, and his ten thousand
warriors grasped their arrows and javelins, and with
the hideous war-whoop rushed" upon the Spaniards.
But at the same instant a bugle blast, echoing over
►
the plain, put the whole Spanish army in motion in
an impetuous charge. The two signals for the deadly
conflict seemed to be simultaneous. The body-guard
of De Soto, with their far superior weapons, not only
repelled the Indian assailants, but seized and bound
Yitachuco as their captive. De Soto lost not a
oent in mounting a horse, led to him by his servant.
mo
DE SOTO.
But the noble animal fell dead beneath him, pierced
by many arrows. Another steed was instantly at his
side, and De Soto was at the head of his cavalry, lead¬
ing the charge. Never, perhaps, before, did so terri¬
ble a storm burst thus suddenly from so serene a sky.
The natives fought with valor and ferocity which
could not be surpassed even by the Spaniards. All
the day long the sanguinary battle raged, until ter¬
minated by the darkness of the night. The field was
bordered, on one side, by a dense forest, and on the
other by a large body of water, consisting of two
lakes. Some of the natives escaped into the almost
impenetrable forest. Many were drowned. Several
of the young men, but eighteen years of age, who
were taken captive,—the sons of chiefs,—developed
a heroism of character which attracted the highest ad¬
miration of De Soto. They fought to the last possi¬
ble moment, and when finally captured, expressed
great regret that they had not been able to die for
their country. They said to their conqueror,
v
« If you wish to add to your favors, take our lives.
After surviving the defeat and capture of our chief¬
tain, we are not worthy to appear before him, or to
live in the world.”
It is said that De Soto was greatly moved with
compassion in view of the calamity which had befal-
len these noble young men. He embraced them
4
r
THE CONSPIRACY. 187
with parental tenderness, and commended their valor,
which he regarded as proof of their noble blood.
“ For two days,” writes Mr. Irving, “he detained
them in the camp, feasting them at his table and
treating them with every distinction; at the end of
which time he dismissed them with presents of linen,
4
cloths, silks, mirrors and other articles of Spanish
manufacture. He also sent by them presents to
their fathers and relations, with proffers of friend¬
ship.”
De Soto had succeeded in capturing four of the
most distinguished captains of Vitachuco. They had
been ostensibly the friends of the Spaniard, had ate
at his table and had apparently reciprocated all his
kindly words and deeds. While
deceiving him,
they had cooperated with Vitachuco for his destruc¬
tion. De Soto summoned them with their chief be¬
fore him.
9
“ He reproached them,” says Mr. Irving “ with the
treacherous and murderous plot, devised against him
n
and his soldiers, at a time when they were professing
the kindest amity. Such treason, he observed,
ited death; yet he wished to give the natives evi¬
dence of his clemency. He pardoned them, there-
♦
fore, and restored them to his friendship ; warning
them, however, to beware how they again deceived
him, or trespassed against the safety and welfare of
mer
i88
DE SU'l'O.
the Spaniards, lest they should bring down upon
themselves dire and terrible revenge.”
Vitachuco
Yet
remembrance
mg the conspiracy which had led to such deplorable
9
results, De Soto treated him with great kindness, giv¬
ing him a seat at his own table, and endeavoring in
ft
all ways to obliterate the
»»
flict. De Soto was in search of gold. He had heard
of mountains of that precious metal far away in the
interior. The natives had no wealth which he desired
to plunder. Their hostility he exceedingly depre¬
cated, as it deprived him of food, of comforts, and
exposed his little band to the danger of being cut off
and annihilated, as were the troops of Narvaez, who
had preceded him. The past career of. De Soto
proves, conclusively, that he was by nature a humane
man, loving what he conceived to be justice.
Under these circumstances, a wise policy de¬
manded that he should do what he could to concili¬
ate the natives before he advanced in his adventurous
journey, leaving them, if hostile, disposed to cut off
ft
his return. It is said that nine hundred of the most
j
distinguished warriors of Vitachuco were virtually
enslaved, one of whom was assigned to each of the
Spaniards, to serve him in the camp and at the table.
Such at least is the story as it comes down to us. Vi¬
tachuco formed the plan again to assail the Spaniard*
THE CONSPIRACY.
189
b y a concerted action at the dinner-table. Every
warrior was to be ready to surprise and seize his
master, and put him to death. There is much in this
% •
narrative which seems improbable. We will, however,
give it to our readers as recorded by Mr. Irving in his
very carefully written history of the Conquest of
Florida. We know not how it can be nresenf-ed in a
manner
“ Scarcely had Vitachuco conceived this rash
scheme than he hastened to put it into operation. He
had four young Indians to attend him as
These he sent to the principal prisoners, revealing
his plan, with orders that they should pass it secretly
and adroitly from one to another, and hold themselves
in readiness, at the appointed time, to carry it into
n
effect. The dinner hour of the third day was the
time fixed upon for striking the blow. Vitachuco
would be dining with the governor, and the Indians
m general attending upon their respective masters.
“ The cacique was to watch his opportunity,
spring upon the governor and kill him, giving at the
moment
throughout the village. The war-whoop was to be
the signal for every Indian to grapple with his maste*
or with any other Spaniard at hand and dispatch him
Jf
on the spot.
“ On the day appointed Vitachuco dined as usual
DE SOTC.
190
with the governor. When the repast was concluded,
he sprang upon his feet, closed instantly with the
governor, seized him with the left hand by the collar,
and with the other fist dealt him such a blow in the
face as to level him with the ground, the blood gush-
4
ing out of eyes, nose and mouth. The cacique threw
himself upon his victim to finish his work, giving at
A
the same time his signal war-whoop.
“ All this was the work of an instant; and before
the officers present had time to recover from their
astonishment, the governor lay senseless beneath the
tiger grasp of Vitachuco. One more blow from the
savage would have been fatal; but before he could
give it a dozen swords and lances were thrust through
♦ ,
his body, and he fell dead.
“ The war-whoop had resounded through the vil¬
lage. Hearing the fatal signal, the Indians, attend¬
ing upon their masters, assailed them with whatever
missile they could command. Some seized upon
pikes and swords ; others snatched up the pots in
which meal was stewing at the fire, and beating the
Spaniards about the head, bruised and scalded them
at the same time. Some caught up plates, pitchers,
jars, and the pestles wherewith they pounded the
maize. Others seized upon stools, benches and ta¬
bles, striking with impotent fury, when their weapons
had not the power to harm. Others snatched up
THE CONSPIRACY. I9I
burning fire-brands, and rushed like very devils into
the affray. Many of the Spaniards were terribly
burned, bruised and scalded. Some had their arms
broken.”
This terrible conflict was of short duration.
Though the Spaniards were taken by surprise, they
were not unarmed. Their long keen sabres gave
them a great advantage over their assailants. Though
several were slain, and many more severely wounded,
the natives were soon overpowered. The exasperated
Spaniards were not disposed to show much mercy.
In these two conflicts with the Indians, Vitachuco fell,
and thirteen hundred of his ablest warriors.
De Soto had received so terrific a blow, that for
a
half an hour he remained insensible. The gigantic
fist of the savage had awfully bruised his face, knock¬
ing out several of his teeth. It was four days before
he recovered sufficient strength to continue his march
and twenty days elapsed before he could take any
solid food. On the fifth day after this great disaster
the Spaniards resumed their journeyings in a north¬
west direction, in search of a province of which they
had heard favorable accounts, called Osachile. The
first day they advanced but about twelve miles,
encamping upon the banks of a broad and deep river,
which is supposed to have been the Suwanee.
A band of Indians was upon the opposite side of
192 DE SOTa
the stream evidently in hostile array. The Spaniards
spent a day and a half in constructing rafts to float
them across. They approached the shore in such
strength, that the Indians took to flight, without as-
k
sailing them. Having crossed the river they entered
upon a prairie country of fertile soil, where the indus-
4
trious Indians had many fields well filled with com,
beans and pumpkins. But as they journeyed on, the
Indians, in. small bands, assailed them at every point
from which an unseen arrow or javelin could be
thrown. The Spaniards, on their march, kept in
quite a compact body, numbering seven or eight hun¬
dred men, several hundred of whom were mounted
*
on horses gayly caparisoned, which animals, be it re¬
membered, the Indians had never before seen.
After proceeding about thirty miles through a
pretty well cultivated country, with scattered farm¬
houses, they came to quite an important Indian town
called Osachile. It contained about two hundred
■ houses; but the terrified inhabitants had fled, taking
with them their, most valuable effec f s, and utter soli¬
tude reigned in its streets.
The country was generally flat, though occasion¬
ally it assumed a little of the character of what is
called the rolling prairie. The Indian towns were al¬
ways built upon some gentle swell of land. Where
this could not be found, they often constructed arti-
THE CONSPIRACY.
193
ficial mounils of earth, sufficient in extent to contain
4
from ten to twenty houses. Upon one of these the
chief
attendants would rear their
dwellings, while the more humble abodes of the com¬
mon people, were clustered around. At Osachile
De Soto found an ample supply of provisions, and he
remained there two days.
It is supposed that Oaschile was at the point
now called Old Town. Here De Soto was inform¬
ed by captive Indians that about thirty leagues to
the west there was a very rich and populous country
called Appalachee. The natives were warlike in the
highest degree, spreading the terror of their name
f
through all the region around. Gold was said to
abound there. The country to be passed through,
before reaching that territory, was filled with gloomy
4
swamps and impenetrable thickets, where there was
opportunity for ambuscades. De Soto was told that
the Appalachians would certainly destroy his whole
army should he attempt to pass through those bar¬
riers and enter their borders.
This peril was only an incentive to the adventu¬
rous spirit of the Spanish commander. To abandon
the enterprise and return without the gold, would be
not only humiliating, but would be his utter ruin. He
had already expended in the undertaking all that he
possessed. He had no scruples of conscience to re-
9
194 de soto.
tard his march, however sanguinary the hostility of
the natives might render it. It was the doctrine of
the so-called church at Rome, that Christians were en¬
titled to the possessions of the heathen ; and though
De Soto himself by no means professed to be actu¬
ated by that motive, the principle unquestionably in¬
fluenced nearly his whole army.
But he did assume that he was a peaceful travel¬
ler, desiring to cultivate only friendly relations with
the natives, and that he had a right to explore this
wilderness of the new world in search of those pre¬
cious medals of which the natives knew not the value,
but which were of-so much importance to the interest
of all civilized nations.
I
For three, days the Spaniards toiled painfully along
over an arid, desert plain, beneath a burning sun.
About noon on the fourth day they reached a vast
4 . _
swamp, probably near the Estauhatchee river. This
swamp was bordered by a gloomy forest, with gigantic
trees, and a dense, impervious underbrush, ever stim-
m
ulated to wonderful luxuriance by an almost tropical
sun and a moist and spongy soil. Through this mo¬
rass the Indians, during generations long since passed
away, had constructed a narrow trail or path about
three feet wide. This passage, on both sides, was
4
walled up by thorny and entangled vegetation almost
as impenetrable as if it were brick or stone.
THE CONSPIRACY.
195
In the centre of this gloomy forest, there was a
sheet of shallow water about a mile and a half in
width and extending north and south as far as the eye
could reach. The Indians had discovered a ford
across this lake till they came to the main channel in
the centre, which was about one hundred and twenty
feet wide. This channel, in the motionless waters,
f V.
was passed by a rude bridge consisting of trees tied
together.
De Soto encamped on the borders of this gloomy
region for a short time to become acquainted with the
route and to force the passage. There were various
spots where the Indians, familiar with the whole re¬
gion, lay in ambush. From their unseen coverts,
they could assail the Spaniards with a shower of ar¬
rows as they defiled through the narrow pass, and
escape beyond any possibility of pursuit. Compelling
some Indians to operate as guides, under penalty of
being torn to pieces by bloodhounds, De Soto com¬
menced his march just after midnight. Two hundred
picked men on foot, but carefully encased in armor,
led the advance in a long line two abreast. Every
man was furnished with his day’s allowance of food in
the form of roasted kernels of corn. They pressed
along through a path which they could not lose, and
from which they could not wander, till they reached
the lake. Here the guides led them along by a nar-
DE SOTO.
I 96
row ford, up to their waists in water, till they reached
the bridge of logs. The advance-guard had just
passed over this bridge when the day dawned, and they
were discovered by the Indians, who had not supposed
they would attempt to cross the morass by night.
The Appalachian warriors, with hideous yells and
great bravery, rushed into the lake to meet their
foes. Here Spaniard and Floridian grapoled in the
death struggle up to their waists in water. The
steel-clad Spaniards, with their superior arms, pre-
«ailed, and the natives repulsed, rushed into the nar¬
row defile upon the other side of the lake. The
main body of the army pressed on, though contin¬
ually and fiercely assailed by the arrows of the In¬
dians. Arriving at a point where there was an ex-
A
panse of tolerably dry ground, De Soto sent into the
forests around forty skirmishers to keep off the In¬
dians, while a hundred and fifty men were employed
4
in felling trees and burning brush, in preparation for
an encampment for the night.
Exhausted by the toil of the march and of the
battle j drenched with the waters of the lake ; many of
them suffering from wounds, they threw themselves
down upon the hot and smouldering soil for. sleep.
But there was no repose for them that night. Dur-
A
ing all the hours of darkness, the prowling natives
kept up a continuous clamor, with ever recurring a»-
THE CONSPIRACY.
197
saults. With the first dawn of the morning the
Spaniards resumed their march, anxious to get out
of the defile and into the open prairie beyond, where
they could avail themselves of their horses, of which
the Indians stood in great dread. As they gradually
emerged from the impenetrable thicket into the more
open forest, the army could be spread out more
effectually, and the horesmen could be brought a lit¬
tle more into action. But here the valor of the na¬
tives did not forsake them.
“ As soon as the Spaniards,” writes Mr. Irving,
“ entered this more open woodland, they were as¬
sailed by showers of arrows on every side. The In¬
dians, scattered about among the thickets, sallied
forth, plied their bows with intense rapidity, and
plunged again into the forest. The horses were of
no avail. The arquebusiers and archers seemed no
longer a terror; for in the time a Spaniard could make
one discharge, and reload his musket or place another
bolt in his cross-bow, an Indian would launch six 01
seven arrows. Scarce had one arrow taken flight
9
before another was in, the bow. For two long leagues
did the Spaniards toil and fight their way forward
1 ♦
through this forest.
“ Irritated and mortified by these galling attacks
and the impossibility of retaliating, at length they
emerged into an open and level country. Here, ovei
198
DE SOTO.
I
joyed at being freed from this forest prison, they gave
reins to their horses, and free vent to their smothered
rage, and scoured the plain, lancing and cutting down
every Indian they encountered. But few of the ene¬
my were taken prisoners, many were put to the
sword.”
CHAPTER XII.
4
9
Winter Quarters .
Incidents of the March,—Passage of the River.—Entering Anhayea.—-
Exploring Expeditions.—De Soto's desire for Peace.—Capture of
Capifi.—His Escape.—Embarrassments of De Soto.—Letter of
Isabella.—Exploration of the Coast.—Discovery of the Bay of Pen¬
sacola.—Testimony Respecting Cafachique.—The March Resumed.
4
*
The Spaniards now entered upon a beautiful and
highly cultivated region, waving with fields of corn
and adorned with many pleasant villages and scat-
i
tered farm-houses. It seemed to be the abode of
peace, plenty and happiness. It certainly might have
been such, but for the wickedness of man. Wearied
with their long march and almost incessant battle, the
Spaniards encamped in the open plain, where their
horsemen would be able to beat off assaults.
«
But the night brought them no repose. It was
necessary to keep a large force mounted and ready
for conflict. The natives, in large numbers, surroun¬
ded them, menacing an attack from every quarter,
repeatedly drawing near enough in the darkness to
throw their arrows into the camp, and keeping up an
incessant and hideous howling. After a sleepless
200 FERDINAND DE SOTO.
I
night, with the earliest light of the morning they re¬
sumed their march along a very comfortable road,
which led through extensive fields of corn, beans,
pumpkins and other vegetables. The prairie spread
9 I
out before them in its beautiful, level expanse, till
lost in the distant horizon. All the day long their
march was harassed by bands of natives springing up
from ambush in the dense corn-fields which effectu¬
ally concealed them from view. Many were the
bloody conflicts in which the natives were cut down
mercilessly, and still their ferocity and boldness con¬
tinued unabated.
After thus toiling on for six miles the Spaniards
approached a deep stream, supposed to be the river
Uche. It was crossed by a narrow ford with deep
water above and below. Here the natives had con¬
structed palisades, and interposed other obstacles,
behind which, with their arrows and javelins, they
seemed prepared to make a desperate resistance. De
Soto, after carefully reconnoitering the position, se-
ft
lected a number of horsemen, who were most effectually
protected with their steel armor, and sent them for¬
ward, with shields on one arm, and with swords and
hatchets to hew away these obstructions, which were
all composed of wood. Though several of the Spanr
k
iards were slain and many wounded, they effected a
4
passage, when the mounted horsemen plunged
4
WINTER QUARTERS.
201
through the opening, put the Indians to flight and
cut them down with great slaughter.
k
Continuing their march, on the other side of the
river, for a distance of about six miles through the
same fertile and well populated region, they were ad¬
monished by the approach of night, again to seek an
encampment. The night was dark and gloomy. All
were deeply depressed in spirits. An incessant battle
seemed their destiny. The golden mountains of which
they were in pursuit were ever vanishing away. They
were on the same path which had previously been
traversed by the cruel but energetic Narvaez,, and
where his whole company had been annihilated,
leaving but four or five to tell the tale of the awful
tragedy.
Dreadful as were the woes which these adventur¬
ers had brought upon the Indians, still more terrible
■
were the calamities in which they had involved them-
4
selves. They were now three hundred miles from
Tampa Bay. Loud murmurs began to rise in the
camp. Nearly all demanded to return. But, for De
Soto, the abandonment of the enterprise was dis¬
grace, and apparently irretrievable ruin. There was
to be deplored
more
than that of an
nobleman. De Soto
was therefore urged onward by the energies of de
spair,
202 FERDINAND DE SOTO.
Again through all the hours of the night, they
>
were exposed to an incessant assault from their un¬
wearied foes. From their captives they learned that
they were but six miles from the village of Anhayea,
where their chief, Capafi, resided. This was the first
instance in which they heard of a chief who did not
bear the same name as the town in which he dwelt.
Early in the morning, De Soto, with two hundred
mounted cavaliers and one hundred footmen, led the
advance, and soon entered the village, which consist¬
ed of two hundred and fifty houses, well built and
of large size.
At
the dwelling of
the chief, which was quite imposing in extent,
though not in the grandeur of its architecture. The
men
tered deserted streets. The army remained here for
several days, finding abundance of food. Still they
were harassed, day and night, by the indomitable
energy of the natives. Two well armed expeditions
were sent out to explore the country on the north
and the west, for a distance of forty or fifty miles,
while a third was dispatched to the south in search
of the ocean.
Anhayea, where the main body of the army
took up its quarters, is supposed to have been near
the present site of the city of Tallahassee. The twa
WINTER QUARTERS. 203
first expeditions sent out, returned, one in eight and
the other in nine days, bringing back no favorable
report. The other, sent in search of the ocean, was
absent much longer, and De Soto became very ap¬
prehensive that it had been destroyed by the natives.
Through many perilous and wild adventures, being
k 4
often betrayed and led astray by their guides, they
reached, after a fortnight’s travel, the head of the bay
now called St. Mark’s. Here they found vestiges of
. the adventurers who had perished in the ill-fated
Narvaez expedition. There was a fine harbor to
which reinforcements and fresh supplies of ammunition
might be sent to them by ships from Cuba, or from
Tampa Bay. With these tidings they hurried back
to Anhayea.
They had now reached the month of November,
I
1539. The winter in these regions, though short, had
often days of such excessive cold that men upon the
open prairie, exposed to bleak winds called northers,
often perished from the severity of the weather.
De Soto resolved to establish himself in winter-quar¬
ters at Anhayea. With his suite he occupied the
palace of the chief. The other houses were appro¬
priated to the soldiers for their barracks. He threw
up strong fortifications and sent out foraging parties
into the region around, for a supply of provisions.
As we have no intimation that any payment was
204
FERDINAND DE SOTO.
made, this was certainly robbery. Whatever may be
said of the necessities of his case, it was surely unjust
to rob the Indians of their harvests. Still, De Soto
should not be condemned unheard; and while we
have no evidence that he paid the natives for the
food he took from them, still we have no proof that
he did not do so.
In accordance with his invariable custom, he made
strenuous efforts to win the confidence of the natives.
Through captive Indians he sent valuable presents to
the chief Capafi in his retreat, and also assurances-
4
that he sought only friendly relations between them.
The chief, however, was in no mood to give any
cordial response to these advances. He had taken
refuge in a dense forest, surrounded by dismal morass-
i
es, which could only be traversed by a narrow pass
known only to the Indians, where his warriors in am¬
bush might easily arrest the march of the whole army
of Spaniards. The brutal soldiery of Narvaez had
taught them to hate the Spaniards.
He kept up an incessant warfare, sending out
from his retreat fierce bands to assail the invaders
by day and by night, never allowing them one
moment of repose. Many of the Spaniards were
slain. But they always sold their lives very dearly,
b
so that probably ten natives perished to one of the
m
Spaniards. There was nothing gained by this car
WINTER QUARTER'S.
205
nage. De S^to was anxious to arrest it. Every
consideration rendered it desirable for him to have
the good will of the natives. Peace and friendship
would enable him to .press forward with infinitely
less difficulty in search of his imaginary mountains
of gold and silver and would greatly facilitate his
J
establishment of a colony around the waters of some
beautiful bay in the Gulf, whence he could ship his
treasures to Spain and receive supplies in return.
Finding it impossible to disarm the hostility of
Capafi by any kindly messages or presents, he
resolved if possible to take him captive. In this
1
way only, could he arrest the cruel war. The venera-
tion of the Indians for their chief was such that,
with Capafi in the hands of the Spaniards as a hos¬
tage, they would cease their attacks out of regard to
his safety.
It was some time before De Soto could get any
clew to the retreat in which Capafi was concealed.
And he hardly knew how to account for the fact,
that the sovereign of a nation of such redoubtable
ferocity, should never himself lead any of his military
bands, in the fierce onsets which they were inces¬
santly making. At length De Soto learned that
Capafi, though a man of great
mental
energy, was
is enormous
obesity. He was so fat that he could scarcely walk-
2o6
FERDINAND DE SOTO.
and was borne from place to place on a litter. He
commands
execu
tion of them must be left to others. He also ascer¬
tained that this formidable .chief had taken up his
almost unapproachable quarters about twenty-five
Anhay
that in addition to the
tangled thickets and treacherous morasses with
which nature had surrounded him, he had also
fortified himself in the highest style of semi-barbarian
art, and had garrisoned his little fortress with a band
♦
of his most indomitable warriors.
Notwithstanding the difficulty of the enterprise,
De Soto resolved to attempt to capture him. This
was too arduous a feat to be entrusted to the leader¬
ship of any one but himself. He took a select body
of horsemen and footmen, and after a very difficult
to the borders of the
citadel where the chief and his garrison were in¬
trenched. Mr. Irving, in his admirable history of
the Conquest of Florida, gives the following interest¬
ing account of the fortress, and of the battle in
which it was captured:
** In the heart of this close and impervious forest,
a piece of ground was cleared and fortified for the
residence of the Cacique and his warriors. The only
entrance or outlet, was by a narrow path cut through
the forest. At everv hundred i-vo+Ti
came
WINTER QUARTERS.
207
barricaded by palisades and trunks of trees, at each
of which was posted a guard of the bravest warriors.
Thus the fat Cacique was ensconced in the midst of
the forest like a spider in the midst of his web, and
his devoted subjects were ready to defend him to the
last gasp.
“ When the Governor arrived at the entrance to
the perilous defile, he found the enemy well prepared
for its defence. The Spaniards pressed forward, but
the path was so narrow that the two foremost only
could engage in the combat. ' They gained the first
and second palisades at the point of the sword.
There it was necessary to cut the osiers and other
bands, with which the Indians had fastened the
beams. While thus occupied they were exposed
many
Not¬
withstanding all these obstacles, they gained one
palisade after the other until, by hard fighting, they
arrived at the place of refuge of the Cacique.
“ The conflict lasted a long time, with many feats
of prowess on both sides. The Indians however, for
want of defensive armor, fought on unequal terms,
and were most of them cut down. The Cacique
called out to the survivors to surrender. The latter,
having done all that good soldiers could do, and
seeing all their war-like efforts in vain, threw them-
offer*
12
208
PERDINAND DE SOTO.
ed up their own lives, hut entreated him to spare
the life of their Cacique.
cc De Soto was moved by their valor and their
loyalty; receiving' them with kindness, he assured
4
them of his pardon for the past, and that henceforth
he would consider them as friends. Capafi, not
being able to walk, was borne in the arms of his at¬
tendants to kiss the hands of the Governor, who,
well pleased to have him in his power, treated him
with urbanity and kindness.”
Severe as had been the conflict, De Soto return¬
ed to Anhayea with his captive, highly gratified by
the result of his enterprise. He had strictly en¬
joined it upon his troops not to be guilty of any act
of wanton violence. Gn the march he had very
carefully refrained from any ravaging of the country
He now hoped that, the chief being in his powei
and being treated, with the utmost kindness, all hos¬
tilities would cease. But, much to his disappoint¬
ment, the warriors of Capafi, released from the care
of their chief, devoted themselves anew to the
harassment of the Spaniards in every possible way.
Capafi seemed much grieved by this their con¬
duct, assuming to be entirely reconciled to his con¬
queror. He informed De Soto that his prominent
warriors, who directed the campaign, had established
in a dense forest about thirty
4
209
WINTER QUARTERS.
*
1
■
miles from Anhayea. He said that it would be of
no avail for him to send messengers to them, for
they would believe that the messages were only such
• i
as De Soto compelled their chief to utter. He how¬
ever offered to go himself to the camp of his war¬
riors, accompanied by such a guard of Spanish
troops as De Soto might deem it best to send with
him. He expressed the assurance, that he should
be enabled to induce his warriors to throw down
their arms.
De Soto accepted the proposition. In the early
morning a strong escort of infantry and cavalry left
the village to conduct the chief to the encampment
of the natives. Skillful guides accompanied them,
so that they reached the vicinity of the encampment
just as the sun was going down. The chief sent
forward scouts immediately, to inform his friends
of his approach. The Spaniards, weary of their long
day’s march, and convinced of the impossibility of
the escape of the chief, who could scarcely walk
a step, were very remiss in watchfulness. Though
they established sentinels and a guard, in accordance
with military usage, it would seem that they all
alike fell asleep. It is probable that the wily chief
had sent confidential communications to his war¬
riors through his scouts.
The Spaniards were encamped in the glooms of
210 FERDINAND DE SOTO.
the forest. At midnight, when darkness, silence and
solitude reigned, Capafi. stealthily crept on his hands
and knees, a few rods from his sleeping guard, into
the thicket, where a band of Indian runners met him
with a litter and bore him rapidly away beyond all
chance of successful pursuit. The Spaniards never
caught glimpse of their lost captive again. When
k
they awoke their chagrin and dread of punishment
were extreme. The sentinels, who had been ap¬
pointed to watch the captive, solemnly averred, in
excuse for their neglect, that during the night de¬
moniac spirits had appeared, and had borne away
the unwieldy chief through the air.
As all the band were implicated in the escape, all
were alike ready to aver that, during the night, they
had witnessed very strange sights and heard very
strange sounds. When they carried back this report,
the good-natured De Soto, convinced that fretting
and fault-finding would do no good, appeased their
alarm by saying, with a peculiar smile:
“It is not strange. These Indian wizards per¬
form feats far more difficult than conjuring away a
fat chief.’'
The winter passed slowly away. The natives
weie a very ferocious race; tall, strong, athletic, and
delighting in war. Every day and every hour brought
alarm and battle. The Indians conducted a harass*
WINTER QUARTERS.
21 1
ing and destructive warfare In small bands they
roamed through the forest, cutting off any who ven¬
tured to wander from the town. It required a large
amount of food to supply the wants of the .army in
n
1
Anhayea. Not a native carried any provisions to
the town, and it was necessary for De Soto, to send
out foraging expeditions, at whatever risk. The
winter was cold.. Fires were needed for warmth and
cooking. But the sound of an axe could not be heard
in the forest, without drawing upon the wood-cutters,
a swarm of foes. De Soto found himself in what is
called a false position; so that he deemed it neces¬
sary to resort to cruel and apparently unjustifiable
expedients.
He took a large number of Indian captives. These
he compelled to be his hewers of wood and drawers
of water. He would send a party of Spaniards into
the forests for fuel. Each man led an Indian as a.
servant to operate in the double capacity of a shield
against the arrows of the natives, and a slave to col¬
lect and bring back the burden. To prevent the
escape of these Indians, each one was led by a chain
fastened around his neck or waist. Sometimes these
natives would make the most desperate efforts to
escape; by a sudden twitch upon the chain they
would endeavor to pull it from the hands of their
gua v d, or to throw him down and. seizincr anv Huh
212 FERDINAND DE SCTO.
* *
.within their reach, would spring upon him with the
ferocity of a tiger.
In various ways more than twenty Spaniards lost
their lives, and many more were seriously wounded.
It was indeed a melancholy winter for the army of
De Soto. Their supplies were so far expended that
it was needful for them to await the arrival of their
' vessels in the Bay of St. Marks. It will also be remem¬
bered, that De Soto had sent back an expedition to
cut its way for a distance of three hundred miles
through hostile nations to Ucita, and to summon the
garrison there, to set out on a march to join him at
Anhayea. Five months were thus spent in weary
' waiting.
It is estimated that De Soto’s force in Anhayea,
including the captives who were servants or slaves,
amounted to about fifteen hundred persons. He had
also over three hundred horses. The fertility of the
region was however such, with its extended fields of
i
corn, beans, pumpkins and other vegetables, that it
was not necessary to send foraging parties to a dis¬
tance of more than four or five miles from the village.
On the 29th of December, 1539, the two brigantines,
which had sailed from Tampa Bay, came into St.
Marks, then called the Bay of Aute. For twelve
days before the arrival of the ships, De Soto had
kept companies of horse and foot marching and
WINTER QUARTERS. 213
countermarching between Anhayea and the Bay,
to keep the communication open. They also placed
banners on the highest trees, as signals to point out
the place of anchorage.
• v 1
Juan De Anasco, who had command of the
vessels, left them well manned in the bay, and with
. ( i 1
the remainder of the ship’s company marched to
Anhayea, under escort of the troops sent him by De
Soto.
Soon after this, Pedro Calderon arrived with his
gallant little band of a hundred and twenty men.
By a series of the wildest adventures and most
1
heroic achievements they had cut their way through
a wilderness thronging with foes, where an army of
eight hundred men had with difficulty effected a
passage
every
ing along with them their wounded, their progress
was necessarily slow. Several of their
number
killed and many wounded. Of the wounded, twelve
died soon after they reached Anhayea.
Their arrival in the village was a cause of great
gratification to all there. De Soto received
them
whom
supposed to have been lost. The rumor had reached
the Governor that all had been slain on the road.
Captain Calderon brought a letter to De Soto,
from his wife Isabella. We find the following
214
FERDINAND DE SOTO.
interesting extract from this letter in the life of De
Soto by Mr. Lambert A. Wilmer. It seems to bear
1 *i
internal evidence of authenticity, though we know
not the source from which Mr. Wilmer obtained it.
The spirit of the letter is in entire accord with the
noble character which Mr. Washington Irving gives
Isabella, in his life of Columbus and his companions.
>
a I have lately had some conversation with Las
Casas, the Bishop of Chiapa. He has convinced me
' • 4
that the behavior of our people to the Indians is
inexcusable in the sight of God, however it may be
overlooked by men in high authority. The Bishop
has proved to me that all who have taken part in
the abuse of these harmless people, have been visited
»
in this life with the manifest displeasure of heaven;
and God grant that they may not be punished in the
life to come according to the measure of their
offense.
a I hope, my dearest husband that no considera¬
tions of worldly advantage will make you neglectful
of the precepts of humanity and of the duties of
religion. Be persuaded to return to me at once; for
you can gain nothing in Florida which can repay me
for the sorrow and anxiety I feel in your absence.
Nor for all the riches, of the country would I have
you commit one act the remembrance of which
4
would be painful to you hereafter. If you have
WINTER QUARTERS,
215
gained nothing I shall be better satisfied, because
there may be the less cause for repentance. What¬
ever may have been your want of success or your
losses, I implore you to come to me without delay;
for any reverse of fortune is far better than the sus¬
pense and misery I now endure.”
This letter must have caused De Soto great per¬
plexity. But for reasons which we have above given
he could not make up his mind to abandon the
enterprise, and return to Cuba an unsuccessful and
imooverished man.
De Soto now ordered the two vessels under Diego
1
Maldonado to explore the coast to the westward,
y
carefully examining every river and bay. It would
seem also probable that at the same time he fitted
1
out an expedition of fifty foot soldiers, to march along
the coast on a tour of discoveiy. Maldonado, after a
sail of about two hundred miles, entered the beautiful
bay of Pensacola, then called Archusi. It was an ad¬
mirable harbor, and with shores so steep and bold
that ships could ride in safety almost within cable
length of the land. No Spaniards had previously
visited that region, consequently the natives were
friendly. They came freely on board, bringing fruits
and vegetables, and inviting the strangers to the hos¬
pitality of their homes.
Maldonado was allowed without molestation to
216
FERDINAND DE SOTO.
explore the bay in all directions, taking careful sound
ings. The vessels returned to the bay of Aute, after
an absence of but eight weeks. De Soto was highly
gratified with the results of the expedition It
seemed to him that the shores of the bay of Pensacola
presented just the position he desired for the location
of his colony. He had thus far failed, in his searcli
for gold, but it seemed to him still possible that he
4
might lay the foundation of a populous and powerful
empire.
It was now the latter part of February, and an
almost vertical sun was throwing down its rays upon
them. Maldonado was dispatched with the brigan¬
tines to Havana, to return with a supply of clothing
ammunition and such other freight as was needful for
the army in its isolated condition. He received orders
to be back in the bay of Pensacola, by the first of
October. In the mean time De Soto with his army
was to make a long circuit through the country, in
search of gold. De Soto had received information of
a distant province called Cofachiqui, which was gov¬
erned by a queen, young and beautiful. It was said
that this nation was quite supreme over the adjacent
provinces, from which it received tribute and feudal
homage.
Two lads but sixteen years of age had come to
Anhayea, from this province in company with some
WINTER QUARTERS.
217
Indian traders. So far as they could make themselves
understood, though very unskilful interpreters, they
represented the country as abounding in silver, gold
and precious stones. In pantomime they described
the process of mining and smelting the precious metals
1
so accurately that experienced miners were convinced
that they must have witnessed those operations.
*
In the month of March, 1540, De Soto left his com¬
fortable quarters, and commenced his march for that
province, in a northeasterly direction. Their path
led first through an almost unpeopled wilderness
many leagues in extent. Each soldier bore his frugal
supper or food upon his back. It consisted mainly
of roasted corn pounded or ground into meal.
An unobstructed but weary tramp of three days
brought them through this desert region to a very
singular village, called Capachiqui. In the midst of
a vast morass, there was an island of elevated and
dry ground. Here quite a populous village was
erected, which commanded a wide spread view of the
flat surrounding region. The village could only be
approached by several causeways crossing the marsh,
about three hundred feet in length. The country be¬
yond was fertile and sprinkled with small hamlets.
Eight hundred armed warriors, on the open plain,'
presented a force, which the most valiant Indians
would not venture to assail. The Spaniards entered
218
FERDINAND DE SOTO.
the village by these causeways unopposed, and found
there a not inhospitable reception.
The day after their arrival, seven of De Soto’s
body-guard, thoughtless and rollicking young men,
set out, without authority from their superior officers,
to seek amusement in the neighboring hamlets.
They had scarcely reached the main land, beyond the
-marsh, when the Indians, from an ambush, rushed
upon them, and after a very fierce struggle all but one
were slain, and that one, Aguilar, was mortally
wounded. The soldiers in the village hastened to the
relief of their comrades, but they were too late.
Aguilar,, in a dying condition, was carried back to the
c-iiUcUUpiIlCIlU
He
left to make the following extraordinary state
ment:
You must know that a band of more than fifty
ravages sprang out of the thickets to attack us.
The moment, however, they saw that we were but
seven, and without our horses, seven warriors stepped
forth, and the rest retired to some distance. They
began the attack, and as we had neither arquebus
nor cross-bow, we were entirely at their mercy. Be-
ing more agile, and fleet of foot than our men, they
leaped around us like so many devils, with horrid
laughter, shooting us down like wild beasts without
our being able to close with them. My poor com-
WINTER QAARTERS. 219
rades fell one after the other, and the savages seeing
me alone, all seven rushed upon me, and with their
bows battered me as you have witnessed. 3 ’
This singular event took place within the territory
of Apalache. It is said that the Spaniards not un-
frequently met with similar instances, in which the
natives disdained to avail themselves of superior
numbers.
*
♦
CHAPTER XIII.
#•
Lost in the Wilderness.
Incicle' *o at Achise—Arrival at Cofa.—Friendly Reception by Cofa>
quJ —The Armed Retinue.—Commission of Patofa.—Splendors
of the March. Lost in the Wilderness.—Peril of the Army.—
Friendly Relations.—The Escape from the Wilderness.—They
Reach the Frontiers of Cofachiqui.—Dismissal of Patofa.—Won-
derful Reception by the Princess of Cofachiqui.'
After a couple of days of rest and feasting, the
Spanish army resumed its march. De Soto led the
►
advance with forty horsemen and seventy foot sol¬
diers. Ere long they entered the province of At-
tapaha, from which the river Attapaha probably
takes its name. On the morning of the third day
they approached a village called Achise. The af-
i
frighted natives had fled. Two warriors who had
tarried behind, were captured as the dragoons came
dashing into the streets. They were led into the
presence of De Soto. Without waiting to be ad¬
dressed by him, they haughtily assailed him with
the question,
4
“ What is it you seek in our land ? Is it peace,
P
221
OST IN THE WILDERNESS. •
♦
or is it war?’’ De Soto replied, through his inter¬
preter, .
“We seek not war with any one. We are in
search of a distant province; and all that we ask
c
for is an unobstructed passage through your country,
and food by the way.”
The answer seemed to them perfectly satisfac¬
tory, and they at once entered apparently into the
most friendly relations. The captives were set at lib-
P
erty and treated by the Spaniards, in all respects, as
friends.
message
to their chief, informing him of the peaceful disposi*
tion of the Spaniards, and he accordingly issued
orders to his people not to molest them.
In this pleasant village, and surrounded by this
friendly people, De Soto spent three days. He then
resumed his journey, in a northeasterly direction,
along the banks of some unknown river, fringed with
mulberry trees, and winding through many luxuriant
and beautiful valleys. The natives were all friendly,
i
and not the slightest collision occurred. For eleven
days the army continued its movements, encounter¬
ing nothing worthy of note.
They then entered a province called Cofa. De
Soto sent couriers in advance' to the chief with prof-
sent a large
number of Indians laden with food for the strangers.
fers of friendship. The chief, in return,
222 FERDINAND DE SOTO.
♦
With the provisions were sent rabbits, partridges,
and' a species of dog whose flesh was held in high
esteem. The Spaniards suffered for want of meat:
for though game in the forest was abundant, being
constantly on the march, they had no time for hunt-
ing.
The chief of Cofa received the Spaniards in his
metropolitan town with great hospitality. He as¬
signed his own mansion to De Soto, and provided
comfortable quarters for all his troops. The natives
and the Spaniards mingled together without the
slightest apparent antagonism. The province of
Cofa was of large extent, populous and fertile. Here
the Spaniards remained five days, entertained by
the abounding hospitality of the chief.
*
De Soto had thus far brought with him a piece
4
of ordnance, which had proved of very little service.
It was heavy and exceedingly difficult of transpor
tation. He decided to leave it behind him with
this friendly people. To impress them, however, with
an idea of its power as an engine of destruction,
he caused it to be loaded and aimed at a large oak
tree just outside of the village. Two shots laid the
r
oak prostrate. The achievement filled both the
chief and his people with amazement and awe.
i
Again the army resumed its march towards the
next province, which was called Cofaquc; whose
LOST IN THE WILDERNESS.
3
message
chief was brother of Cofa. The Spaniards were
escorted by Cofa and a division of his army, during
one day’s journey. The friendly chief then took an
affectionate leave of De Soto, and sent forward cour¬
iers to inform his brother of the approach of the
Spaniards and to intercede for his kindly offices in
their behalf. It required a march of six days to
reach the territory of the new chieftain.
In response to Cofa’s message, Cofaqui dispatched
four of his subordinate chiefs, with a
welcome to the Spaniards. He sent out his runners
to bring him speedy intelligence of their approach.
As soon as he received news that they were drawing
near, he started himself, with a retinue of warriors
in their richest decorations, to welcome the strangers.
The meeting, on 'both sides, was equally cordial.
Side by side, almost hand in hand, the Floridians and
the Spaniards entered the pleasant streets of Cofa¬
qui. The chief led De Soto to his own mansion,
and left him in possession there while he retired to
another dwelling.
t
The intercourse between these two illustrious
men seemed to be as cordial as that between two
loving brothers. The Floridian chief, with, great
frankness, gave De Soto information respecting the
extent, population and resources cf his domain. He
informed him that the, province of Cofachiqui, of
*
224
FERDINAND DE SOTO.
which he was in search, could only be reached by a
journey of seven days, through a dreary wilderness.
But he offered, should De Soto decide to continue
%
his journey, to send a strong band of his army, to
accompany him with ample supplies. De Soto after¬
wards ascertained that there was some duplicity in
this proposal; or rather, that the chief had a double
object in view. It appeared, that there had been
long and hereditary antagonism between the prov¬
ince of Cofaqui, and that of Cofachiqui; and the
chief availed himself of that opportunity to invade
the territory of his rival.
Scouts were sent out in all directions to assemble
the warriors, and De Soto was surprised to find an
<
army of four thousand soldiers, and as many burden-
bearers, ready to accompany him. The provisions,
with which they were fully supplied, consisted mainly
plums and r.
accompanied
' game.
In-
The Spaniards at first were not a little alarmed
in finding themselves in company with such an army
of natives; outnumbering them eight to one, and
they were appiehensive of treachery. Soon, however,
their fears in that direction were allayed, for the
chief frankly. avowed the object of the expedition.
Summoning before him Patofa, the captain of the
LOST IN THE WILDERNESS.
225
native army, he said to him, in presence of the lead¬
ing Spanish officers in the public square:
1
“You well know that a perpetual enmity has
existed between our fathers and the Indians of Cof-
r
achiqui. That hatred you know has not abated in
r
the least. The wrongs we have received from that
vile tribe still rankle in our hearts, unavenged. The
present opportunity must not be lost. You, at the
head of my braves, must accompany this chief and
his warriors, and, under their protection, wreak ven¬
geance on our enemies.”
Patofa, who was a man of very imposing appear¬
ance, stepped forward, and after going through sev¬
eral evolutions with a heavy broadsword carved from
wood, exceedingly hard, said:
“ I pledge my word to fulfill your commands, so
far as may be in my power. I promise, by aid of
the strangers, to revenge the insults and deaths, our
fathers have sustained from the natives of Cofachi-
qui. My vengeance shall be such, that the memory
of past evils shall be wiped away forever. My daring
to reappear in your presence will be a token that
your commands have been executed. Should the
fates deny my hopes, never again shall you see me,
never again shall the sun shine upon me. If the
enemy deny me death, I will inflict upon myself the
punishment my cowardice or evil fortune will merit.”
10 *
226 FERDINAND DE SOTO.
• ! • ,K
It was indeed a large army which then com>
menced its march, for it consisted of four thousand
native warriors, and four thousand retainers to carry
supplies and clothing, and between eight and nine
hundred Spaniards. The Indians were plumed and
decorated in the highest style of military display.
The horses of the Spaniards were gayly caparisoned,
and their burnished armor glittered in the sun.
Silken banners waving in the breeze and bugle peals
echoing over the plains, added both to the beauty
and the sublimity of the scene.
i
The Spaniards conducted their march as in an
enemy’s country, and according to the established
usages of war. They formed in squadrons with a
%
van and rear guard. The natives followed, also in
martial array; for they were anxious to show the
• * j
Spaniards that they were acquainted with military
discipline and tactics. Thus in long procession, but
without artillery trains or baggage wagons, they
moved over the extended plains and threaded the
9 % * ■ • ,
defiles of the forest. At night they invariably en¬
camped at a little distance from each other. Both
parties posted their sentinels, and adopted every
caution to guard against surprise.
t
Indeed, it appears that De Soto still had some
distrust of his allies, whose presence was uninvited,
and with whose company he would gladly have dis
LOST IN THE WILDERNESS.
pensed. The more he reflected upon his situation,
the more embarrassing it seemed to him. He was
entering a distant and unknown province, ostensibly
on a friendly mission, and it was his most earnest
desire to secure the good-will and cooperation of the
natives. And yet he was accompanied by an army
whose openly avowed object was, to ravage the
country and to butcher the people.
%
The region upon which they first entered, being
a border land between the two hostile nations, was
almost uninhabited, and was much of the way quite
pathless
It consisted, however, of a pleasant di¬
versity of hills, forests and rivers. The considerable
band of hunters which accompanied the native army,
succeeded in capturing quite an amount of game for
the use of the troops. For seven days the two
armies moved slowly over these widely extended
plains, when they found themselves utterly bewil¬
dered and lost in the intricacies of a vast, dense,
tangled forest, through which they could not find
even an Indian’s trail. The guides professed to be
entirely at fault, and all seemed to be alike bewil¬
dered.
De Soto was quite indignant, feeling that he had
been betrayed and led into an ambush for his de¬
struction. He summoned Patofa to his presence and
said to him:
228
FERDINAND DE SOTO.
“ Why have you, under the guise of friendship, led
us into this wilderness, whence we can discover no
way of extricating ourselves? I will never believe
t • »•••
that among eight thousand Indians there is not one
to be found capable of showing us the way to Cofa-
chiqui. It is not at all likely that you who have
maintained perpetual war with that tribe, should
know nothing of the public road and secret paths
leading from one village to another.”
Patofa made the following frank and convincing
reply.
“ The wars that have been waged between these
two provinces, have not been carried on by pitched
battles nor invasions of either party, but by skirmishes
by small bands who resort to the streams and rivers
we have crossed, to fish ; and also by combats be-
i
tween hunting parties, as the wilderness we have tra
versed is the common hunting ground of both nations.
k
The natives of Cofachiqui are more powerful and
have always worsted us in fight. Our people were
therefore dispirited and dared not pass over their own
frontiers.
“ Do you suspect that I have led your army into
these deserts to perish ? If so, take what you please.
If my head will suffice, take it; if not you may be¬
head every Indian, as they will obey my mandate to
the death.”
LOST IN THE WILDERNESS. 229
♦
The manner of Patofa was in accordance with
♦
these feeling and manly words. l)e Soto no longer
cherished a doubt of his sincerity, and became also con¬
vinced that their guides were utterly unable to extrk
cate him. Under these circumstances nothing re¬
mained but blindly to press forward or to retrace his
steps. They at length found some narrow openings
. in the forest through which they forced their way
until they arrived, just before sunset, upon the banks
of a deep and rapid stream which seemed to present
an impassable barrier before them.
They had no canoes or rafts with which to cross
the river; their food was nearly consumed, as it had
been supposed that a supply for seven days would be
amply sufficient to enable them to traverse the des¬
ert. To turn back was certain death by starvation ;
f •
to remain where they were was equal destruction; to
go forward seemed impossible, for they had not suffi¬
cient food to support them even while constructing
rafts. It was the darkest hour in all their wander¬
ings. Despair seemed to take possession of all hearts
excepting that of De Soto. He still kept up his
courage, assuming before his people an untroubled
and even cheerful spirit.
A
The river afforded water to drink A large grove
*
of pine trees bordering the river, beneath whose
fragrant shade they were encamped, sheltered them
230
FERDINAND DE SOTO.
from the sun. The level and extended plain, dry
4
and destitute of underbrush, presented excellent
camping-ground. Food only was wanting. But
without this food in a few short days the whole
army must perish.
De Soto, that very evening leaving the armies
there, took a detachment of horse and foot and set
off himself in search of some relief or path of extri¬
cation. Late in the night he returned, perplexed
and distressed, having accomplished nothing. A
council of war was held. It was promptly decided
/
that the armies should remain where they were while
detachments were sent in all directions in search of
tood or ot some path of escape.
These detachments left early in the morning anc
returned late at night having discovered neither roac
nor corn-field, nor habitation. De Soto then organized
four bands of horse and two of foot to go up and
down the river, and to penetrate the interior, and to
make as wide an exploration as possible within the
limit of five days. Each band was accompanied by
a large number of natives. Patofa himself went with
one of these detachments. A thousand Indian
warriors were scattered through the forest in search
of a road and such game as could be found. The
Governor remained on the banks of the river anx*
iously awaiting their return.
LOST IN THE WILDERNESS. 23 1
“The four thousand Indians,” writes Mr. Irving,
“who remained with him, sallied out every morning
and returned at night, some with herbs and roots
that were eatable, others with fish, and others again
m
with birds and small animals killed with their bows
and arrows. These supplies were, however, by no
means sufficient for the subsistence of such a multi¬
tude.
“ De Soto fared equally with his men in every
respect; and, though troubled and anxious for the
fate of his great expedition, he wore a sunny counte¬
nance to cheer up his followers. These chivalrous
spirits appreciated his care and kindness,, and to.
solace him they concealed their sufferings, assumed
an air of contentedness, and appeared as happy as -
though revelling in abundance.”
&
Most of the exploring parties suffered no less
from hunger than did their companions who remained
behind. Juan De Afiasco, after traversing the banks
of the river for three days, had his heart gladdened
by the sight of a small village. From an eminence
he saw that the country beyond was fertile, well
j
cultivated and dotted here and there with hamlets.
In the village, for some unexplained reason, he found
a large amount of provisions accumulated, consisting
mainly of corn. He immediately dispatched four
horsemen back to De Soto with the joyful, tidings
232
FERDINAND DE bOTO.
They took with them such food as they could carry
This proved to be the first village in the long-sought-
for province of Cofachiqui.
It will be remembered that Patofa, the com-
4
mander-in-chief of the native army, had, with a large
number of his warriors, accompanied Anasco. He
tiad pledged his word to his chief that he would do
*
everything in his power to harass, pillage and destroy
their ancestral foes. Anasco encamped his band a
little outside the village. At midnight Patofa and
his warriors crept stealthily from the encampment,
pillaged the temple which contained many treasures
prized by the Indians, and killed and scalped every
native whom they met, man, woman or child. When
Anasco awoke in the morning and found what they
had done, he was terrified. The outrage had been
committed by troops under his own command. He
was apprehensive that every man in the village,
aided by such warriors as could be gathered from
around, would rush upon him in revenge, and that
he and his enfeebled followers would be destroyed.
Immediately he commenced a retreat to meet De
Soto, who he doubted not would be promptly on the
move to join him.
233
LOST IN THE WILDERNESS.
■
had traversed. The troops were overjoyed at the
glad tidings, and immediately prepared to resume
their march. Several of their detachments had not
yet returned. In order to give them information of
the direction which the army had taken, De Soto
wrote a letter, placed it in a box, and buried it at
the foot of a tree. Upon the bark of the tree, he •
had these words conspicuously cut: cc Dig at the
root of this pine, and you will find a letter.”
The half famished troops, inspired with new en¬
ergies, reached the village in a day and a half, where
their hunger was appeased. The scattered detach¬
ments arrived a few days after. The force of De
P
Soto was too strong for the natives to attack him,
notwithstanding the provocation they had received.
He found, however, much to his chagrin, that he was
utterly unable to restrain the savage propensities
of his allies. For seven days the Spaniards so¬
journed in this frontier village of Cofachiqui. War¬
like bands were continually stealing out, penetrating
V
the region around, killing and scalping men, women
and children, and committing every conceivable out¬
rage of barbaric warfare.
*
De Soto could endure this no longer. He called
Patofa before him, and told him in very emphatic
terms that he must return to his own province. He
thanked the chieftain very cordially for his friendly
234 FERDINAND DE SOTO.
escort, made him a present of knives, clothing, and
other valuables, and dismissed him and his followers.
Patofa was not unwilling to return. He was highly
gratified with the presents he had received, and
still more gratified that he had been permitted to
wreak vengeance on his hereditary foes.
Two days after his departure, the Spanish army
was again in motion, along the banks of the river.
Every step they took revealed to them the awful
ravages committed by the bands of Patofa. They
passed many dwellings and many small hamlets,'
where the ground was covered with the scalpless
bodies of the dead. The natives had fled in terror
k
to the woods, so that not a living being was encoun¬
tered. There was, however, a plentiful supply of
food in the villages, and the army again enjoyed
abundance.
The heroic Anasco was sent in advance to search
out the way and, if possible, to capture some Indians
as guides. He took with him a small band of thirty
foot-soldiers, who were ordered to move as noise¬
lessly as possible, that they might, perchance, come
upon the natives by surprise. There was quite a
broad, good road leading along the banks over which
the band advanced. Night came upon them when
they were about six miles ahead of the army. They
were moving in profound silence and with noiseless
235
LOST IN THE WILDERNESS.
step through a grove, when they heard, just before
them, the sounds of a village. The barking of dogs,
the shouts of children, and the voices of men and
women, reached their ears. Pressing eagerly forward,
hoping to capture some Indians in the suburbs, they
found that there was a sudden turn in the river and
that they stood upon the. banks of its deep and
swiftly flowing flood, with the village on the other
side. There was no means of crossing, neither
would it have been prudent to have crossed with
such small numbers, not knowing the force they
4
might encounter there.
They dispatched couriers back in the night, to in¬
form De Soto of their discovery. By the break of
day, the army was again in motion, De Soto himself
taking the lead, with one hundred horse and one hun¬
dred foot. When he reached the banks, and the na¬
tives upon the opposite shore caught sight of his
4
glittering dragoons, on their magnificent steeds, they
were struck with amazement and consternation.
It would seem that the language of these differ¬
ent tribes must have been essentially the same, for
T I
Juan Ortiz was still their interpreter. He shouted
across the river, assuring the natives of the friendly
intentions of the Spaniards, and urging them to send
some one over to convey a message to their chief,
9
After some little hesitation and deliberation, the In-
236
FERDINAND DE SOTO.
dians launched a large canoe, in which six Indians of
• 4 »
venerable appearance took their seats, while quite a
1 * • • •
number of lusty men grasped the oars. Very rapidly
I
the canoe was driven through the water.
g 1 . .
. De Soto, who had watched these movements with
% «.
r
deep interest, perceived that he was about to be
much
He had there-
>
fore brought forward and placed upon the banks a
very showy throne, or chair of state, which he always
carried with him for such purposes. Here he took
his seat, with his retinue of officers around him.
The native chieftains landed without any appa-
» •
rent fear, approached him with three profound rever¬
ences, and then with much dignity inquired, “ Do you
*
come for pea.ce or for war? ’’
“ I come for peace,” De Soto replied, “ and seek
1
only an unmolested passage through your land. I
need food for my people, and implore your assistance,
means
The Indians replied, that they were themselves
v
somewhat destitute of provisions; that a terrible
pestilence the preceding year had swept off many of
their inhabitants ; and that others in their consterna-
to
tion had fled from their homes, thus neglecting
cultivate the fields.
I 1
They said that their chieftain was a young prin-
1 •»
i' i, A
cess who had recently inherited the government, and
LOST IN THE WILDERNESS.
237
that they had no doubt that she would receive them
with hospitality, and do everything in her power, to
promote their welfare. Having thus concluded this
friendly interview, the chiefs returned to the other
side of the river.
Very soon the Spaniards, who eagerly watched
every movement, perceived a decided commotion in
the village. A large and highly decorated canoe
appeared upon the banks; then quite a gorgeous
palanquin was seen borne by four men, descending
; then several other canoes of
stream
for
imposing structure seemed to be preparing
I
aquatic procession. From the palanquin a graceful
girl, showily dressed, entered the state canoe and re¬
clined upon cushions in the stern under a canopy.
Eight female attendants accompanied her.
The six ambassadors, who had already visited De
Soto, took seats in the canoe which led the van,
driven as before by a large number of sinewy arms.
The royal barge was attached to this canoe and was
towed by it. Several other boats, filled with distin¬
guished men, followed in the rear, completing the im¬
posing show.
As the young princess stepped on shore, all the
Spaniards were deeply impressed with her dignity,
grace and beauty. To their eyes, she was in form
and feature as perfect as any image which Grecian
238 FERDINAND DE SOTO.
I
artist ever sculptured. Her attendants brought with
them a chair of state upon which she took her seat
after courteously bowing to the Governor. 1 hrough
i
an interpreter they immediately entered into conver¬
sation. The princess confirmed the statement of hei
ambassadors in reference to the pestilence, but offeied
to do everything in her power to provide them with
food. She offered one-half of her own residence to
De Soto for his accommodation, and one-half of the
houses in her village as barracks for the soldiers.
She also promised that by the next day rafts and
canoes should be in readiness to transport the Span¬
iards across the river.
The generous soul of De Soto was deeply touched,
and he assured her of his lasting friendship and that
of his sovereign. At the close of the interview the
princess rose, and as a present, suspended a string of
costly pearls around the neck of De Soto. The Gov
ernor then rose and presented her with a ring of gold
set with a ruby, which she placed upon one of her
t
fingers. Thus terminated this extraordinary inter
view. What a difference between peace and war *
' Were half the power that fills the world with terror.
Were half the wealth bestowed on camps and courts,
Given to redeem the human mind from error, *
There were no need for arsenals or forts.
lost in the wilderness.
239
« The warrior’s name would be a name abhoned;
And every nation that should lift again
Its hand against a brother, on its forehead
Would wear forevermore the curse of Cain ”
CHAPTER XIV.
The Indian Princess .
Crossing the River.—Hospitable Reception.—Attempts to visit th*
Queen Mother.—Suicide of the Prince.—Futile search for Gold,
•The Discovery of Pearls.—The Pearl Fishery.—The Princess a
Captive.—Held in Silken Chains.—Her Escape.—Location of
Cutifachiqui.— The March Resumed.
. The next day after the extraordinary interview
which we have described in the last chapter, the prin¬
cess ordered several large rafts to be constructed,
and with these, aided by a number of canoes, the
army crossed the rapid stream. Four horses, in at¬
tempting to swim the swift river, were carried away
and drowned. These animals were so precious
that the loss was deplored by the whole army.
When the troops had all crossed, they found very
pleasant accommodations provided for them. Some
j
were lodged in the village. For the rest commodious
wigwams were erected just outside of the village in a
beautiful mulberry grove on the river banks. The
province of Cofachiqui was found to be very fertile
and quite densely populated. The natives were in
THE INDIAN PRINCESS
\
24 I
complexion nearly as white as the Spaniards. They
had agreeable features, graceful forms, and were very
frank and aimable in disposition. They did not seem
to be fond of war, though often involved in conflicts
with their neighbors. According to the custom of
the times, all prisoners of war were enslaved and
were employed in servile labor. To prevent their
escape, the cruel expedient was adopted of cutting
the main tendon of one leg just above the heel.
M
The mother of the princess of this tribe was a
widow, residing in a retired home about thirty-six
miles down the river. De Soto, who was anxious to
secure
the firm friendship of this interesting people.
mother
immediately
chieftains to urge her mother to visit her, that she
might be introduced to the strange visitors, and see
the wonderful animals on which they rode.
She however declined the invitation, expressing
her very decided disapproval of the conduct of her
daughter, as both inexpedient and indelicate, in
entering into such friendly relations with utter stran¬
gers, of whose ulterior designs she could know noth-
h
ing. This message, greatly increased the desire of
De Soto to have an interview with the queen mother,
that he might conciliate her friendship. He there¬
fore dispatched Juan De Anasco, who was alike dis«
242 FERDINAND DE SOTO,
4
tinguished for bravery and prudence, with thirty
companions on foot, to convey to her presents and
friendly messages, and very earnest requests that
she would visit them at the court of her daughter.
o
The princess sent a near relative of the family as
aide to this party—a young man about twenty-
le years of age, and exceedingly attractive both in
3 rson and character. He was richly habited in
x
rments of soft deerskin, beautifully fringed and
.nbroidered, with a head-dress of various colored
plumes.
“ In his hand he bore a beautiful bow, so highly
polished as to appear as if finely enamelled. At his
shoulder hung a quiver full of arrows. With a light
and elastic step and an animated and gallant air his
whole appearance was that of an ambassador, worthy
of the young and beautiful princess whom he served.”
The morning was somewhat advanced, ere they
left the village. It was a beautiful day in a lovely
clime. Their route led down the banks of the river
through luxuriant and enchanting scenery. After a
pleasant walk of ten or twelve miles, they rested in
the shade of a grove, for their noonday meal. Their
young guide had been very social all the way, enter¬
taining them with information of the region through
which they were passing, and of the people. As
they were partaking of their refreshments, suddenly
THE INDIAN PRINCESS.
243
them from
the aspect of their young companion became greatly
altered. He was silent, thoughtful and apparently
deeply depressed. At length he quietly took the
quiver from his shoulder, and slowly and seemingly
lost ill deep reflection, drew out the arrows one by
one. They were very beautiful, of the highest possi-
ble finish, keenly pointed, and triangularly feathered.
The Spaniards took them up, admired them great-
hand to hand. At length he
drew out an arrow barbed with flint, long, and sharp,
P
and shaped like a dagger. Casting an anxious glance
around, and seeing the attention of the Spaniards
engrossed in examining his weapons, he plunged the
keen pointed arrow down his throat, severing an
artery, and almost immediately fell dead. The sol¬
diers were shocked and bewildered, not being able
to conceive of any reason for the dreadful occur-
9
rence. There were several Indian attendants in the
company, who seemed to be overwhelmed with dis¬
tress, uttering loud cries of grief over the corpse.
It subsequently appeared, that the young guide
was a great favorite with the queen mother; that he
knew that she was very unwilling to have any ac-
4
quaintance with the Spaniards, and he apprehended
that it was their object to seize her and carry her
off by violence. The thought that he was guiding
them to her retreat overwhelmed him. He could
*
244 FERDINAND DE SOTO.
not endure the idea oi meeting her, and perhaps of
being reproached as her betrayer.
On the other hand, the queen, whom he reveied
and loved, had commissioned him to conduct the
Spaniards to her mother’s abode. He did not dare
to disobey her commands. Either alternative was
more to be dreaded by him than death. The ingen¬
uous young man had, therefore, endeavored to es¬
cape from the dilemma by self-destruction.
Juan De Anasco was not only deeply grieved by
-r
the fate of his young friend, but also greatly per¬
plexed as to the course he was then to pursue.
None of the Indian attendants knew where the
widow was concealed. He took several natives pris¬
oners, and anxiously inquired of them respecting the
residence of the queen mother. But either they
could not, or would not, give him any information.
After wandering about fruitlessly until noon of the
next day, he returned to the camp, much mortified
in reporting to De Soto the utter failure of his ex¬
pedition.
Two days after his return, an Indian came to him
t
and offered to conduct him down the river in a canoe,
to the dwelling of the queen mother. Eagerly he
accepted the proposition. Two large canoes, with
strong rowers, were prepared. Anasco, with twenty
companions, set out on this second expedition. The
THE INDIAN PRINCESS.
245
queen heard of his approach, and, with a few attend-
ants, secretly fled to another retreat far away. After
a search of six days, tfce canoes returned, having
accomplished nothing. De Soto relinquished all
further endeavors to obtain an interview with the
widow.
In the meantime, while Anasco was engaged in
these unsuccessful enterprises, De Soto was making
very anxious inquiries respecting the silver and the
gold which he had been informed was to be found
in the province. The princess listened to his de¬
scription of the yellow metal and the white metal of
which he was in search, and said that they were both
to be found in great abundance in her territories.
She immediately sent out some Indians, to bring
him specimens. They soon returned laden with a
9
yellow metal somewhat resembling gold in color,
but which proved to be nothing but an alloy of cop¬
per. The shining substance which he had supposed
wa-s silver, was nothing but a worthless species of
. I
mica, or quartz. Thus again, to his bitter disap¬
pointment, De Soto awoke from his dreams of gold¬
en treasure, to the toils and sorrows of his weary
life.
The princess seemed to sympathize with her
guest in the bitterness of his disappointment. In
her attempts at consolation, she informed him that
246 FERDINAND DE SOTO.
at the distance of about three miles from where they
were, there was a village called Talomeco, which
I
was the ancient capital of the realm; that here
t here was a vast sepulchre, in which all the chieftains
and great warriors had been buried; that their bod¬
ies were decorated, with great quantities of pearls.
• t - ♦
De Soto, with a large retinue of his own officers
and of the household of the princess, visited this
mausoleum. Much to his surprise, he found there
an edifice t]iree hundred feet in length, and one
hundred and twenty in breadth, with a lofty roof.
The entrance was decorated with gigantic statuary
of wood. One of these statues was twelve feet in
height. In the interior many statues and carved
ornaments were found.
A large number of wooden chests or coffins con¬
tained the decaying bodies of the illustrious dead.
By the side of each of these there was another
smaller chest, containing such valuables as it was
probably supposed the chief would need in the spirit-
land. Both the Inca and the Portuguese narrative
agree in the account of the almost incredible number
9
of pearls there found. It is said that the Spaniards
obtained fourteen bushels, and that the princess as¬
sured them, that by visiting the mausoleums of the
various villages, they could find enough pearls t,o
*1
load down all the horses of the army.
THE INDIAN PRINCESS.
247
►
The Spaniards generally were greatly elated at
the discovery of these riches.
Pearls were csti-
diamonds. It is said
Q
was valued at three hundred and seventy-five thou-
4
sand dollars. Philip II. of Spain received as a present
a pearl, about the size of a pigeon’s egg, valued at
one hundred and sixty thousand dollars.
De Soto was urged to establish his colony upon
this river, which has Variously been conjectured to
have been the St. Helena, the Oconee, the Ogeechee,
and the Savannah. The country was beautiful and
fertile ; the climate delightful; and apparently an
inexhaustible pearl fishery near. It was urged that
an agricultural colony could be established on the
A
fertile banks of the river, while from the seaport at
its mouth a lucrative trade could be carried on with
the mother country for all the rich productions of
Spain.
But the persistent spirit of De Soto was not to
be turned from its one great all-absorbing object,
the search for gold. He urged, and with great show
of reason, that, in consequence of the recent pesti-
sufficient provisio
army for a month
con¬
tinuing
march they might enter far richer
provinces and might find mines of gold. Should
FERDINAND DE SOTO.
they be disappointed, they could easily return ; and
in the meantime, the Indians having replanted their
land, the fields would wave with abundant golden
harvests.
r
In an army of eight or nine hundred Spanish
adventurers, there would of course be many worth*
less characters, difficult of restraint. De Soto had
been in this village several weeks. Notwithstanding
all his endeavors to promote peace and friendship,
seveial broils had arisen between the natives and
some of the low and degraded of his soldiery. The
conduct of these vile men had produced a general
feeling of ill-will among the natives. Even the
princess herself manifested estrangement. She had
become distant and reserved, and was evidently
desirous that her no longer welcome guests should
take their speedy departure. There were some
indications that the princess so far distrusted the
Spaniards that, like her more prudent mother, she
was about secretly to escape from them by flight.
This would leave the Spaniards in a very embar¬
rassed condition. They needed guides to conduct
them through the extended territory of the princess.
Heavily armed as they were, they needed porters to
can) their buidens of extra clothing and provisions.
he flight of the princess would be the signal for the
natives, all over the territory, to rise in a war of
TEE INDIAN PRINCESS.
attempted extermination. The queen mother would
doubtless do everything in her power to rouse and
stimulate this hostility. The Spaniards thus assailed
on every side, destitute of guides, without porters
to carry their baggage, and with but little food,
would find themselves compelled in self-defence, to
cut their way, with blood-dripping sabres, through
their foes, to rob their granaries, and to leave behind
them a path strown with the dead, and filled with
misery.
Again De Soto found himself in a false position
Again he felt constrained to do that which his own
conscience told him was unjust. The only possible
way, as it seemed to him, by which he could obtain
extrication from these awful difficulties, was to seize
the person of the. princess,- his friend and benefactor,
and hold her as a captive to secure the good
behavior of her subjects. He knew that their love
for her was such that so long as she was in his
power, they would not enter upon any hostile move¬
ment which might bring down vengeance upon her
head.
If De Soto had accepted the spirit of the noble
letter from Isabella, and had said, “ I will no longer
persevere in this invasion of the lands of others,
which is always plunging me more and more deeply
into difficulties,”—had he said frankly to the friendly
11 *
2 SO FERDINAND DE SOTO.
princess, tl I have decided to return to my home, and
I solicit your friendly cooperation to assist me on my
way i and had he made her a present, in token of his
gratitude, of some of those articles with which he
'ould easily have parted, and which were of priceless
alue to her, he might doubtless have retired unmo¬
lested. Instead of this he followed the infamous
example which Pizarro had set him in Peru.
He appointed a guard, who were directed to keep
a constant watch upon the princess, so that she
could by no possibility escape; at the same time
he informing her, in the most courteous tones, that
the protection of his army and of her own people
rendered it necessary that she should accompany
him on his march. He held her in silken chains,
k
treating her with the utmost delicacy and deference.
The princess had sufficient shrewdness to affect
compliance with this arrangement. It certainly
accomplished the desired effect. All strife between
the natives and the Spaniards ceased, a sufficient
body of porters accompanied the army, and its
march was unimpeded. A beautiful palanquin was
provided for the princess, and the highest honors
were lavished upon her.
Colonel A. J. Pickett, in his interesting and very
carefully prepared History of Alabama, speaking of
the locality of this village where De Soto tarried
THE INDIAN PRINCESS.
251
so long-, and encountered so many adventures,
says:
U
He
gia at its southwestern border, and successively
crossing the Ockmulgee, Oconee, and Ogeechee,
finally rested on the banks of the Savannah, im-
mediately opposite the modern Silver Bluff. On
* I
the eastern side was the town of Cutifachiqui,
where lived an Indian queen, young, beautiful,
and unmarried, and who ruled the country around
to a vast extent. In 1736 George Golphin, then
a young Irishman, established himself as an Indian
trader at this point, and gave the old site of Cu¬
tifachiqui the name of Silver Bluff. The most
ancient Indians informed him that this was the
place where De Soto found the Indian princess;
and this tradition agrees with that preserved by
other old traders, and handed down to me.’’
According to this statement the village of Cu¬
tifachiqui was on the eastern bank of the Savan¬
nah river, in Barnwell county, in the State of
South Carolina. On the morning of the 4th of
May, 1540, De Soto again put his army in motion,
taking with him the beautiful queen and her reti¬
nue of plumed warriors. All this country was
. « _ *
then called Florida. The army advanced rapidly
up the eastern bank of the Savannah river, where
252 FERDINAND DE SOTO.
they forded the stream, and, again entering the
present State of Georgia, traversed nearly its whole
breadth until they reached the head waters of the
ft
Coosa river. Here, at the confluence of the Oos-
tanaula and Etowa rivers, they found a large Indian
town called Chiaha, near the present site of Rome.
While on the march across the State of Georgia,
the queen, probably dreading to be carried captive
beyond her own domain, and aided by an under¬
standing with her retinue, leaped from the palan¬
quin and disappeared in a dense forest through
which they were passing. De Soto never saw her
or heard from her again. Undoubtedly a band of
her warriors were in rendezvous there to receive
her.
For five days the adventurers pressed along as
rapidly as possible, over a hilly country about sixty
miles in breadth. Though well watered, and
abounding in beautiful valleys, luxuriant with mul¬
berry groves and rich prairies, it seemed to be
quite uninhabited. Having crossed this mountain¬
ous region, they reached a populous district called
Guachule. The chief had received an intimation
4
of the approach of the Spaniards, and that they
came as messengers of peace and not of war.
When De Soto and his band, led by native guides
whom they had picked up by the way, had ar*
THE INDIAN PRINCESS. '■ 253
rived within two miles of the viLage of the chief;
they discovered him approaching them with a reti¬
nue of five hundred plumed warriors, adorned
4
with glittering robes and weapons in the highest
style of semi-barbaric display. The chief was un-
4
embarrassed, dignified, and courtly in his address.
He received De Soto with truly fraternal kindness,
escorted him to his village, which consisted of
three hundred spacious houses, in a beautiful val¬
ley of running streams at the base of adjacent
hills.
*
The dwelling of the chief was upon a spacious
artificial mound, the summit of which was suffi¬
ciently broad for the large edifice, leaving a ter-
i
•race all around it about twelve feet in breadth.
Here De Soto remained four days, enjoying the
hospitality of the friendly Cacique.
*
Resuming their journey, the army marched
down the banks of a large stream, supposed to be
the Etowa, vriiich empties into the Coosa. For
five days they continued their march through an
uninteresting country, almost destitute of inhabit¬
ants, until, having traversed, as they supposed,
about ninety miles, they came in sight of a large
village, called Chiaha.
De Soto, having arrived opposite the great
town of Chiaha. which probably occupied the pres-
FERDINAND DE SOTO.
254
ent site of Rome, crossed the Oostanaula in ca¬
noes, and upon rafts made of logs, prepared by
the Indians, and took up his quarters in the town.
The noble young chief received De Soto with un¬
affected joy, and made him the following address:
“ Mighty Chief:—Nothing could have made me
so happy as to be the means of serving you and
your warriors. You sent me word from Guaxule
to have corn collected to last your army two
months. Here I have twenty barns full of the
best which the country can afford. If I have not
met your wishes respect my tender age, and re¬
ceive my good-will to do for you whatever I am
able.”
ft
i
V
The Governor responded in a kind manner, and
%
was then conducted to the chief’s own house, pre-
*
pared for his accommodation. The confluence of
the Oostanaula and Etowa at this point forms
the Coosa. Here De Soto remained for a fort¬
night, recruiting his wearied men and his still
more exhausted horses. It was bright and balmy
summer, and the soldiers encamping in a luxuri¬
ant mulberry grove a little outside of the town,
enjoyed, for a season, rest and abundance De
Soto,'as usual, made earnest inquiries for gold.
He was informed that about thirty miles north of
him there were mines of copper, and also of some
THE INDIAN PRINCESS.
255
metal of the color of copper, but finer, brighter,
and softer; and that the natives sometimes melted
them together in their manufacture of barbs, spear-
heads, and hatchets.
This intelligence excited De Soto with new
hopes. He had occasionally met on his way na¬
tives with hatchets composed of copper and gold
melted together. As the province, which was called
Chisca, was separated' from Chiaha by a pathless
wilderness which horses could not traverse, De
Soto sent two of his most trusty followers on an
t
exploring tour through the region, conducted by
Indian guides. After an absence of ten days they
returned with the disappointing report that they
found nothing there but copper of different degrees
of purity.
The rivers in the vicinity of Chiaha seem to
have abounded with pearl oysters, and larg-e num¬
bers of beautiful pearls were obtained. The na¬
tives nearly spoiled them all by boring them through
with a red-hot rod, that they might string them
as bracelets. One day the Cacique presented De
■
Soto with a string of pearls six feet in length,
9
each pearl as large as a filbert. These gems would
have been of almost priceless value but for the
action of fire upon them.
De Soto expressed some curiosity to see how
256 FERDINAND DE SOTO.
the pearls were obtained. The Cacique immedi¬
ately dispatched forty canoes down the river to
t
I
fish during the night for pearl oysters. In the
morning De Soto accompanied the Cacique to the
banks of the river where the oysters were col¬
lected. Large fires were built, and the oysters
placed upon the glowing coals. The heat opened
them, and the pearls were sought for. From some
of the first thus opened ten or twelve pearls were
obtained, about the size of peas. They were all,
however, more or less injured by the heat. Col.
Pickett says that the oyster mentioned was the
muscle, to be found in all the rivers of Alabama.
Again De Soto commenced his journey, leaving
the friendly chief and his people well contented
with the presents he made them of gayly colored
cloths, knives, and other trinkets. Following the
banks of the Coosa to the west they soon entered
■4
what is now the State of Alabama, and on the
second of July came to a large native town named
Acoste. The tribe, or nation, inhabiting this re¬
gion, was famed for its martial prowess. The Ca-
■
cique, a fierce warrior, did not condescend to advance
to meet De Soto, but at the head of fifteen hun-
i
dred of his soldiers, well armed and gorgeously
uniformed, awaited in the public square the ap¬
proach of the Spanish chief. De Soto encamped
THE INDIAN PRINCESS.
25;
his army just outside of the town, and, with a
small retinue, rode in to pay his respects to the
Cacique.
Some of the vagabond soldiers straggled into
the city, and were guilty of some outrages, which
led the natives to fall upon them. De Soto, with
his accustomed presence of mind, seized a cudgel
and assisted the natives in fighting the Spaniards,
while at the same moment he dispatched a cour¬
ier to summon the whole army to his rescue.
Peace was soon established, but there was some
irritation on both sides. The next morning De
Soto was very willing to leave the neighborhood,
and the chief was not unwilling to have him.
De Soto crossed the river Coosa to the eastern
banks, and journeying along in a southerly direc¬
tion, at the rate of about twelve miles a day, passed
over a fertile and populous region, nearly three hun¬
dred miles in extent. It is supposed his path led
through the present counties of Benton, Talladega,
Coosa, and
Alabama
the whole route they were treated by the natives
with the most profuse hospitality, being fed by them
liberally, and supplied with guides to lead them
from one village to another. The province which
De Soto was thus traversing, and which was far-
famed for its beauty and fertility, was called Coosa.
258 FERDINAND DE SOTO.
With a delightful climate, and abounding in fine
meadows and beautiful little rivers, this region was
*
charming to De Soto and his followers. The nu¬
merous barns were full of corn, while acres of that
which was growing bent to the warm rays of the
«
sun apd rustled in the breeze. In the plains were
plum trees, peculiar to the country, and others re¬
sembling those of Spain. Wild fruit clambered to
the tops of the loftiest trees, and lower branches
were laden with delicious Isabella grapes.”*
This is supposed to have been the same native
grape, called the Isabella, which has since been so
extensively cultivated.
* History of Alabama, by Albert James Pickett, p. 17,
CHAPTER XV.
i
►
The Dreadful Battle of Mobila.
The Army in Alabama.—Barbaric Pageant.—The Chief of Tusca*
loosa.—Native Dignity.—Suspected Treachery of the Chief.—
Mobila, its Location and Importance.—Cunning of the Chief.—
The Spaniards Attacked.—Incidents of the Battle.—Disastrous
Results.
On the 15th of July, 1540, the army came in
:V
sight of the metropolitan town of the rich and popu¬
lous province through which it was passing. The
town, like the province, bore the name of Coosa.
The army had travelled slowly, so that the native
chief, by his swift footmen, had easily kept himself
1
informed of all its movements. When within a mile
k
or two of Coosa, De Soto saw in the distance a very
splendid display of martial bands advancing to meet
T
him. The friendly greeting he had continually re¬
ceived disarmed all suspicion of a hostile encounter.
The procession rapidly approached. At its head
was the chief, a young man twenty-six years of age,
of admirable figure and countenance, borne in a
chair palanquin upon the shoulders of four of his
warriors. A thousand soldiers, in their most gaudy
♦
26 o
FERDINAND DE SOTO.
attire, composed his train. As they drew near, with
the music of well-played flutes, with regular tread,
their mantles and plumes-waving in the breeze, all
the Spaniards were alike impressed with the beauty
of the spectacle. The chief himself was decorated
with a mantle of rich furs gracefully thrown over his
shoulders. His diadem was of plumes very bril¬
liantly colored. He addressed De Soto in the fol¬
lowing speech:
“ Mighty chief, above all others of the earth.
Although I c.ome now to receive you, yet I received
you many days ago deep in my heart. If I had the
whole world it would not give me as much pleasure as
I now enjoy at the presence of yourself and your in¬
comparable warriors. My person, lands, and sub¬
jects are at your service. I will now march you to
your quarters with playing and singing.”*
De Soto made a suitable response. Then the
two armies, numbering, with their attendants, more
4
than two thousand men, commenced their march to¬
ward the town. The native chief was borne in his
palanquin, and De Soto rode on his magnificent
charger by his side. The royal palace was assigned
•to De Soto, and one-half of the houses in the town
were appropriated to the soldiers for their lodgings.
The town of Coosa, which consisted of five hun
* Portuguese Narrative, p 719.
THE DREADFUL BATTLE OF MOBILA. 261
dred houses, was situated on the east bank of the
river of the same name, between two creeks now
known as Talladega and Tallasehatchee. During a
residence of twelve days in this delightful retreat,
some slight disturbance arose between some of the
natives and some of the Spanish soldiers. It was,
however, easily quelled by the prudence and friendly
disposition of the chief and the Governor. Indeed,
i
the native chief became so attached to De Soto as
to urge him to establish his colony there. Or if he
could not consent to that arrangement, at least to
spend the winter with him.
“ But De Soto,” writes Mr. Irving, u was anxious
to arrive at the bay of Achusi, where he had ap¬
pointed Captain Diego Maldonado to meet him in
the autumn. Since leaving the province of Xuala
the country,
and was now striking southerly for the sea-coast.”
On the 20th of August the Spanish army, after
having spent twenty-five days at Coosa, was again
in movement. The chief of Coosa, and a large body
of his warriors, accompanied De Soto to their fron¬
tiers, evidently as a friendly retinue. The Portuguese
Narrative makes the incredible assertion that they
were all prisoners, compelled to follow the army for
its protection and as guides. With much moie
probability it is represented that one of the chief's
he had merely made a bend through
202 FERDINAND DE SOTO.
subordinate officers on the frontier was in a state of
insurrection, and that upon that account the chief
gladly accompanied the Spaniards, hoping to over¬
awe his refractory subjects by appearing among
them with such formidable allies.
The Spaniards now entered the territoiy of Tus-
caloosa, who was the most warlike and powerful
chieftain of all the southern tribes. His domain
comprised nearly the whole of the present States of •
Alabama and Mississippi. The Tuscaloosa, or Black
Warrior river, flowed through one of the richest of
his valleys. Though there were no mails or tele¬
graphs in those days, Indian runners conveyed all
important intelligence with very considerable rapid¬
ity. The chief had heard of the approach of the
Spaniards, and the annalists of those days say, we
know not with what authority, that he hesitated
*
whether to receive them as friends or foes. What¬
ever may have been his secret thoughts, he certainly
sent his son, a young man of eighteen, with a reti-
nue of warriors, to meet De Soto with proffers of
friendship.
The young ambassador was a splendid specimen
of manhood, being taller than any Spaniard or In¬
dian in the army, and admirably formed for both
In his bearing he was self-pos¬
sessed and courteous, appearing like a gentleman
strength and agility
THE DREADFUL BATTLE OF MOBILA. 263
accustomed to polished society. De Soto was much
impressed by his appearance and princely manners.
He received him with the utmost kindness, made
1
him several valuable presents, and dismissed him
with friendly messages to his father, stating that he
cordially accepted of his friendship, and would
&
shorly visit him.
4
De Soto then crossed the river Tuscaloosa, or
Black Warrior, having first taken an affectionate leave
of the Cacique of Coosa, who had accompanied him to
this frontier river. A journey of two days brought
the Spaniards to within six miles of the large village
where the chief of Tuscaloosa was awaiting their
arrival. As they reached this spot in the evening,
they encamped for the night in a pleasant grove.
Early the next morning De Soto sent forward a
courier to apprise the chief of his arrival, and set out
soon after himself, accompanied by a suitable retinue
of horsemen.
The chief had, however, by his own scouts, kept
himself informed of every movement of the Span¬
iards. He had repaired with a hundred of his no¬
bles, and a large band of warriors, to the summit of
a hill, over which the route of the Spaniards led, and
which commanded a magnificent prospect of the
country for many leagues around. He was seated
on a chair of state, and a canopy of parti-colored
264 FERDINAND DE SOTO.
deer-skin, very softly tanned, and somewhat resem¬
bling a large umbrella, was held over his head. His
chief men were arranged respectfully and in order
near him, while at a little distance his warriors were
posted in martial bands. The whole spectacle,
crowning the smooth and verdant hill, presented a
beautiful pageant.
The Cacique was about forty years of age, and of
gigantic proportions, being, like his son, nearly a
head taller than any of his attendants. He was
well-formed, and his countenance indicated perfect
self-possession, intelligence, and great firmness. The
sight of the cavaliers approaching with their silken
banners, their glittering armor, and bestride their
magnificent steeds, must have been astounding in
the highest degree to one who had never seen a quad¬
ruped larger than a dog. But the proud chief as¬
sumed an air of imperturbable gravity and indiffer¬
ence. “
i ►
One would have supposed that he had been ac¬
customed to such scenes from his childhood. He
did not deign even to look upon the horsemen,
r
though some of them endeavored to arrest his
attention by causing the animals to prance and rear.
Without taking the slightest notice of the cavaliers
who preceded De Soto, his eye seemed instantly to
discern the Governor. As he approached, the chief
THE DREADFUL BATTLE OF MOBIL A.
265
courteously arose, and advanced a few steps to meet
him. De Soto alighted from his horse, and with
Spanish courtesy embraced 'the chieftain, who, with
great dignity, addressed him in the following words:
f _
“ Mighty chief, I bid you welcome. I greet you
as I would my brother. It is needless to talk long.
What I have to say can be said in a few words.
You shall know how willing I am to serve you. I
■ i
am thankful for the things you have sent me, chiefly
because they were yours. I am now ready to com¬
ply with your desires.
♦
This interview, it is supposed, took place in the
P#
present county of Montgomery, Alabama. The
whole party then returned to the village, De Soto
and the chief walking arm in arm. A spacious house
was assigned to De Soto and his suite by the side of
that occupied by the Cacique.
After a rest of two days in the village, enjoying
ho$pital-
>3
the rather cold and reserved, but
ity of the chief, the Spaniards continued their
march. The chief, either for his own pleasure or by
persuasion, was induced to accompany him. The
most powerful horse in the army was selected to
bear his herculean frame; and yet it is said that
when the Cacique bestrode him his feet almost
touched the ground. De Soto had made him a
present of a dress and mantle of rich scarlet cloth
12
266
FERDINAND DE SOTO.
Thus habited and mounted, with his towerinsr
j O
plumes, he attracted all eyes. The two chieftains
rode side by side. Their route led through the
counties of Montgomery, Lowndes, and the south-
A
eastern part of Dallas, until they came to a large
town called Piache, upon the Alabama river. This
stream they passed on rafts of log and cane, proba¬
bly in the upper part of the county of Wilcox. The
expedition then turned in a southerly direction, fol¬
lowing down the western bank of fhe Alabama
through Wilcox county.
The Indian chief continued proud and distant;
was observed to be frequently consulting with his prin¬
cipal men, and often dispatching runners in different
directions. De Soto was led to suspect that some
treachery was meditated. Two of the Spaniards,
who had wandered a little distance in the woods,
disappeared, and were never heard of
again
It
fives.
was suspected that they had been killed by the na-
A
The Cacique being questioned upon the sub¬
ject, angrily and contemptuously replied :
<c Why do you ask me about your people ?
their keeper ? ”
Am
These suspicions led De Soto to keep a close
watch upon the chief. This was done secretly,
while still friendly relations were maintained be¬
tween them. It was more than probable that the
♦
*
THE DREADFUL BATTLE OF MOBILA. 26 ;
chief was himself a spy in the Spanish camp, and
that he was treacherously gathering his powerful
armies at some favorable point where he could effect-
V
ually annihilate the Spaniards, and enrich himself
with all their possessions of armor and horses. It
was therefore a matter of prudence, almost a vital
necessity, for De Soto to throw an invisible guard
*
around the chieftain, that all his movements might
f
be narrowly observed, and that he might not take to
)
sudden flight. With him in their hands as a host¬
age, the hostility of his warriors might, perhaps, be
effectually arrested.
They were now approaching the town of Mobila,
which was the capital of the Tuscaloosa kingdom.
This town was probably situated at a place now call-
T •
ed Choctaw Bluff, on the north or western side of the
Alabama river, in the county of Clarke. At that
J
point the Spaniards were at a distance of about
twenty-five miles above the confluence of the Ala¬
bama arid the Tombigbee, and about eighty-five
I
. miles from the bay of Pensacola. The town was
r
beautifully situated upon a spacious plain, and con¬
sisted of eighty very large houses; each one of
which, it was stated, would accommodate a thousand
men.
I
As they approached this important place, De So¬
to sent forward some very reliable couriers, to ob-
i
268 FERDINAND DE SOTO.
serve if there were any indications of conspiracy
Early in the morning of the eighteenth of October,
1540, De Soto with the advance guard of his army,
consisting of one hundred footmen, all picked men,
accompanied by the Cacique, entered the streets of
Mobila. Mr. Irving gives the following interesting
account of this important capital:
£c This was the stronghold of the Cacique, where
he and his principal men resided. It stood in a
fine plain, and was surrounded by a high wall, formed
of huge trunks of trees driven into the ground, side
by side, and wedged together. These were crossed,
within and without, by others, small and longer,
bound to them by bands made of split reeds and wild
vines. The whole was thickly plastered over with a
kind of mortar, made of clay and straw trampled to¬
gether, which filled up every chink and crevice of
the wood-work, so that it appeared as if smoothed
with a trowel. Throughout its whole circuit, the
wall was pierced at the height of a man with loop¬
holes, whence arrows might be discharged at an en¬
emy, and at every fifty paces, it was surmounted by a
tower capable of holding seven or eight fighting
men.”
As De Soto and the chief, accompanied by the
advance guard of the Spanish army, and a numer-
T
ous train of Indian warriors, approached the walls, a
THE DREADFUL BATTLE OF MOBILA. 269
large band of native soldiers, in compact martial ar¬
ray, and as usual gorgeously decorated, emerged
from one of the gates. They were preceded by a
musical band, playing upon Indian flutes, and were
followed by a group of dancing girls, remarkably
graceful and beautiful. As- we have mentioned, De
Soto, and the Cacique in his scarlet uniform, rode
side by side. Traversing the streets, the whole
band arrived in the central square. Here they alight¬
ed, and all the horses were led outside the walls to
be tethered and fed.
The chief then, through Juan Ortiz, the inter¬
preter, pointed out to De Soto one of the largest
houses for the accommodation of himself and suite.
• ♦
Another adjoining house was appropriated to. the
servants and attendants.
immedi
ately reared just outside the walls for the accommo-
main
De Soto was somewhat anxious in view of this
arrangement. It was effectually separating him
from his soldiers, and was leaving the Cacique en¬
tirely at liberty. Some words passed between the
chief and the Governor, which led to an angry reply
on the part of the Cacique, who turned upon his
heel and retired to his own palace. The main body
of the army had not yet come up, and if the chief
270 FERDINAND DE SOTO.
meditated treachery, the moment was very favor¬
able for an attack upon the advance guard only.
Soon after the Cacique had left in an angry
mood, one of the cavaliers whom De Soto had sent
forward to examine into the state of affairs, entered
with the announcement that many circumstances in-
£
dicated a dark and treacherous plot. He said that
9
more than ten thousand warriors, all evidently
picked men, and thoroughly armed, were assembled
in the various houses. Not a child was to be found
in the town, and scarcely a woman, excepting the
few dancing girls who had formed a part of the
escort.
The Governor was much alarmed by these tid¬
ings. He dispatched orders to all the troops who
were with him to be on the alert, and to hold them¬
selves in readiness to repel an assault. At the same
time he sent back a courier to inform Luis De Mos-
coso, who was master of the Spanish camp, of the
dangerous posture of affairs. Unfortunately, rely¬
ing upon the friendly spirit of the natives, he had
allowed his men to scatter widely from the camp.
hunting and amusing themselves. It was some time
before they could be collected.
De Soto, anxious to avert a rupture, wished to
get the person of the Cacique in his power. They
had been accustomed since they met to eat together
THE DREADFUL BATTLE OF MOBILA. 2? I
As soon as the attendants of the Governor had pre¬
pared some refreshments for him, he sent J uan Ortiz
to invite the Cacique to join him in the repast. The
T
interpreter was not permitted to enter the palace,
but after a little delay, a messenger announced that
the Cacique would come pretty soon.
%
The Governor waited some time, and again sent
n
Ortiz to repeat the invitation. Again the interpre¬
ter returned with the same response. After an-
• i
other interval of waiting, and the Cacique not
appearing, Ortiz was sent for the third time. Ap¬
proaching the door of the palace, he shouted out, in
*
a voice sufficiently loud to be heard by all within.
“ Tell the chief of Tuscaloosa to come forth. The
food is upon the table, and the Governor is waiting
for him.”
/ •
Immediately one of the principal attendants of.
the Cacique rushed out in a towering passion, and
exclaimed:
“ Who are these robbers, these vagabonds, who
i
keep calling to my chief of Tuscaloosa, 1 come out!
n
come out! ’ with as little reverence as if he were one
of them ? By the sun and moon, this insolence is no
longer to be borne !/ Let us cut them to pieces on
the spot, and put an end to their wickedness and
n
tyranny! ”
i
4
Uttering these words, he threw off his superb
272 FERDINAND DE SOTO.
4
mantle of marten skins, and seizing a bow from the
hands of an attendant, drew an arrow to the head,
aiming at a group of Spaniards in the public square.
But before the arrow left the bow, a steel-clad cava¬
lier, who had accompanied the interpreter, with one
thrust of his sword laid the Indian dead at his feet.
The son of the dead warrior, a vigorous young sav¬
age, sprang forward and let fly upon the cavalier
six or seven arrows, as fast as he could draw them
But they all fell harmless from his armor. He then
seized a club and struck him three or four blows
over the head with such force that the blood gushed
tf
from beneath his casque.
All this was done in an instant, when the cava¬
lier, recovering from his surprise, with two sword-
thrusts, laid the young warrior dead in his blood by
the side of his father. It seemed as though instan¬
taneously the war-whoop resounded from a thousand
throats.
The concealed warriors, ten thousand in number,
with hideous yells, like swarming bees, rushed into
the streets. De Soto had but two hundred men to
meet them.'^But these were all admirably armed,
and most of them protected by coats of mail. He
immediately placed himself at the head of his troops,
and slowly retreating, fighting fiercely every inch of
the way, with his armored men facing the foe, sue-
THE DREADFUL BATTLE OF MOBILA. 273
%
ceeded in withdrawing through the gate out upon
the open plain, where his horsemen could operate to
better advantage. In the retreat five of the Span¬
iards were killed and many severely wounded, De
Soto being one of the number.
The Indians came rushing out upon the plain
in a tumultuous mass, with yells of defiance and vic¬
tory. But the dragoons soon regained their horses,
which had been tethered outside the walls, and
k
whose bodies were much protected from the ar¬
rows of the natives ; and then, in a terrific charge,
one hundred steel-clad men, cutting to the right
treachery
victims
densest masses
every
was death to a half-naked Indian. The slaughter
4
was awful. Brave as the Indians were, they were
thrown into a panic, and fled precipitately into the
town.
from
off from
4 .
tiad taken refuge in the house assigned to the Gov-
srnor. Here they valiantly defended themselves
leainst fearful odds. The bold storming of the
from
¥ X —
perilous position. But now all the warriors of both
parties crowded together in the public square, fought
12 *
«« %
/
♦
.. I • ’ T
§ » r p,* utjr**'
274 FERDINAND DE SOTO.
hand to hand with a ferocity which could not be sur¬
passed. Though the natives were far more numer-
ous than their foes, and were equally brave and
strong, still the Spaniards had a vast superiority
over them in their bucklers, their impenetrable ar¬
mor, and their long, keen sabres of steel.
De Soto, conscious that the very existence of
his army depended upon the issue of the conflict, was
ever in the thickest of the battle, notwithstanding
the severity of the wound from which he was suffer¬
ing. At length, to drive his foes from the protec¬
tion of their houses, the torch was applied in many
places. The timber of which they were built was
dry almost as tinder. Soon the whole place was in
flames, the fiery billows surging to and fro like a
furnace. All alike fled from the conflagration. The
horsemen were already upon the plain, and they cut
down the fugitive Indians mercilessly.
The sun was then sinking; Mobila was in ruins,
and its flaming dwellings formed the funeral pyre of
9
thousands of the dead. The battle had lasted nine
hours. To the Spaniards it was one of the most
terrible calamities. Eighty-two of their number
were slain. Nearly all the rest were more or less
severely wounded. Forty-five horses had been shot
—an irreparable loss which all the army deeply
mourned.
THE DREADFUL BATTLE OF MOBILA.
275
In entering the city, they had piled their camp
equipage against the walls. This was all consumed,
consisting of clothing, armor, medicines, and all the
pearls which they had collected. The disaster to
the natives was still more dreadful. It is estimated
that six thousand of their number perished by the
sword or the flames. The fate of the chieftain is
r
not with certainty known. It is generally supposed
that he was slain and was consumed in the flames of
his capital.
The situation of the Spanish army that night
was distressing in the highest degree. They were
hungry, exhausted, dejected, and seventeen hundred
dangerous wounds demanded immediate attention.
There was but one surgeon of the expedition who
survived, and he was a man of but little skill.
De Soto forgot himself and his wound in devo¬
tion to the interests of his men. Foraging parties
were sent in all directions to obtain food for the suf¬
ferers, and straw for bedding. Here the army was
compelled many days to remain to recruit from the
awful disaster with which it had been so suddenly
overwhelmed.
CHAPTER XVI.
Days of Darkness.
The Melancholy Encampment.—The Fleet at Pensacola.—Singular
Resolve of De Soto.—Hostility of the Natives.—Beautiful Sce-
nery,—Winter Quarters on the Yazoo*—Feigned Friendship
of the Cacique.—Trickery of Juan Ortiz.—The Terrible Battle of
Chickasaw.—Dx*eadful Loss of the Spaniards.
For twenty-three days the Spaniards remained in
their miserable quarters, nursing the sick and the
wounded. As nearly all their baggage had been
consumed in the flames, they were in a condition of
extreme destitution and suffering. Parties, of those
who were least disabled, were sent on foraging expe¬
ditions, penetrating the country around to a distance
of about twelve miles. They found the villages de¬
serted by the terror-stricken inhabitants. But they
obtained a sufficient supply of food to meet their
immediate wants. In the thickets and ravines they
found the bodies of many Indians, who had died of
their wounds, and had been left unburied by their
companions. They also found in many of the de¬
serted hamlets, wounded Indians, who could go no
farther, and who were in a starving and dying coir
277
/
DAYS OF DARKNESS.
dition. De Soto kindly ordered that their wounds
should be dressed, and that they should be fed and
nursed just as tenderly as his own men. Several cap¬
tives were taken. De Soto inquired of them if
another attack were meditated. They replied that
all their warriors were slain ; that none were left to
renew the battle ; that their chief had sent his son
to watch the movements of the Spaniards, and had
summoned his warriors from a great distance for
their extermination. Nearly all were to be slain.
The survivors were to be held as slaves. All their
possessions and especially the magnificent animals
they rode, were to be divided as the spoils of the
conqueror. They said that their chief, upon the ar¬
rival of De Soto with his advance guard, was hold¬
ing a council with his officers, to decide whether
they should immediately attack those who had al¬
ready arrived, or wait until the whole army was with¬
in their power. The passion and imprudence of one
A
of their generals had precipitated the conflict.
The loss of the natives was even greater than De
Soto had at first imagined. The thousands of In¬
dian warriors who- were within the spacious houses,
shooting their arrows through windows, doors and
loopholes, were many of them cut off from all es¬
cape by the devouring flames. Bewildered, blinded.
i
I
i
278 FERDINAND DE SOTO.
stifled by the smoke, and encircled by the billowy
fire, they miserably perished.
While De Soto was thus encamped around the
smouldering ruins of Mobila, he heard of the arrival
of his fleet at Pensacola, then called the bay of Ach-
usi. As he was but about one hundred miles from
that point, an easy march of a few days would bring
him to reinforcements and abundant supplies. The
tidings of their arrival at first gave him great satis¬
faction. His determined spirit was still unvanquish¬
ed. He immediately resolved to establish his col-
ony on the shores of Pensacola Bay, whence he could
have constant water communication with Cuba and
with Spain. Having obtained a fresh supply of mil¬
itary stores and recruits from the ships, he would
lecommence his pursuit after gold.
While one cannot but condemn his persistence
in a ruinous course, the invincible spirit it develops
wins admiration. Indeed if we accept the facts of
the affair at Mobila, as above described, and those
facts seem to be fully corroborated by a careful ex¬
amination of all the reliable annalists of those days,
impartial history cannot severely condemn De Soto
in that dreadful occurrence. But it cannot be denied
I
that he would have acted much more wisely, had he
followed the counsel of Isabella, previously given
i
DAYS OF DARKNESS.
and withdrawn from scenes thus fraught with vio-
fence, cruelty and blood.
As De Soto was conversing with some of his of¬
ficers, of his plan of still prosecuting his journey in
search of gold, he was told, not a little to his dismay,
that his soldiers would not follow him. It was said
that they were all thoroughly disheartened, and anx¬
ious to return to their homes, and that immediately
upon reaching their ships, they would insist upon re¬
embarking, and abandoning a land where they had
i
thus far encountered only disasters.
The thought of returning to Cuba an impoverish¬
ed man, having utterly failed in his expedition, sur¬
rounded by ragged and clamorous followers, and thus
in disgrace, was to De Soto dreadful. ' Not making
sufficient allowance for the difference in those re¬
spects between himself and his followers, he found
it difficult to credit the representations which had
been made to him. He therefore dressed himself in
a disguise, and secretly wandered about by night
among the frail huts of the soldiers, and soon found,
by listening to their conversation, his worst fears con¬
firmed. It became clear to his mind that immedi¬
ately on his return to the ships, his present followers
would disband and shift for themselves, while it
would be in vain for him to attempt to raise another
army.
280
FERDINAND DE SOTO.
Speaking of the distress with which these consid¬
erations oppressed the mind of De Soto, Mr. Irving
well says, referring in confirmation of his statement,
both to the account given by the Portuguese Narra¬
tive, and that by the Inca :
“ Should his present forces desert him, therefore,
he would remain stripped of dignity and command,
blasted in reputation, his fortune expended in vain,
and his enterprise, which had caused so much toil
♦
and trouble, a subject of scoffing rather than renown.
The Governor was a man extremely jealous of his
honor; and as he reflected upon these gloomy pros¬
pects, they produced sudden and desperate resolves.
He disguised his anger and his knowledge of the
schemes he had bverheard, but he determined to frus¬
trate them by turning back upon the coast, striking
nor furnishing any tidings of himself, until he had
crowned his enterprise gloriously by discovering new
regions of wealth like those of Peru and Mexico.
(< A change came over De Soto from this day. He
was disconcerted in his favorite scheme of coloniza-
x
tion, and had lost confidence in his follow'ers. In
stead of manifesting his usual frankness, energy and
alacrity, he became a moody, irritable, discontented
man. He no longer pretended to strike out any grand
undertaking, went recklessly wandering from place to
1
I
■
DAYS OF DARKNESS. 281
place, apparently without order or object as if care-
less of time and life, and only anxious to finish his
existence.”
On the morning of the 15th of November, 1540,
the troops/much to their consternation, received or¬
ders to commence their march to the north, instead
of to the south. The established habits of military
discipline, and the stern manner of De Soto, repelled
all audible murmurs. Each soldier took with him
two days’ provision, which consisted mainly of roasted
corn pounded into meal. It was not doubted that in
the fertile region of that sunny clime they would
find food by the way. But winter was approaching
which, though short, would certainly bring with it
some days and nights of such severe cold that an
unsheltered army would almost peris^.
After traversing a very pleasant country for five
days, without meeting any adventure of any espe¬
cial interest, they came to a river wide and deep, with
precipitous banks, which is supposed to have been
the Tuscaloosa, or Black Warrior. The point at
which they touched this stream, upon whose banks
they had already encamped, was probably near the
present site of Erie, in Greene County. Here they
found upon the farther banks of the river, a popu¬
lous village called Cabusto. De Soto as usual sent a
courier with a friendly message to the chief, saying
ft
282 FERDINAND DE SOTO.
that he came in friendship and sought only an un¬
obstructed path through his realms.”
The chief returned the defiant reply—■
“ We want no peace with you. War only we
want; a war of fire and blood.”
As De Soto, troubled by this message, moved
cautiously forward, he found an army of fifteen hun¬
dred natives drawn up on the banks of the stream to
prevent the passage; while the opposite banks' were
occupied by between six and seven thousand warri¬
ors, extending up and down the river for a distance
j
of six miles. There was nothing for the Spaniards
to do but to press forward. To turn back, in sight
of their foes, was not to be thought of. After a
*
pretty sharp skirmish, in which the Spaniards at-
n
tacked their opponents, the natives sprang into their
canoes, and some by swimming crossed the river and
joined the main body of the Indians upon the oppo¬
site bank.
A
■»
Here they were obviously prepared, to make a
desperate resistance. Night came on, dark and chill.
The Spaniards bivouacked on the open plain, await¬
ing the morning, when, with but about seven hun-
%
dred men, they were to assail eight thousand warri-
ors, very strongly posted on bluffs, with a deep and
rapid river flowing at their feet. The Indians gave
the Spaniards no repose. During the darkness they
DAYS OF DARKNESS.
4
were continually passing the river at different points
in their canoes, and then uniting in one band, with
hideous outcties assailing the weary travellers. The
military genius of De Soto successfully beat them
off through the night. He then intrenched himself
so as to bid defiance to their attacks, and employed
one hundred of his most skilful workmen in build
ing, under the concealment of a neighboring grove,
two very large flat boats.
Twelve days passed before these barges were fin¬
ished. By the aid of men and horses, they were
brought to the river and launched. In the morning,
before the dawn, ten mounted horsemen and forty
footmen embarked in each boat, the footmen to ply
the oars as vigorously as possible in the rapid pas¬
sage of the river to a designated spot, where the
4
horsemen were immediately to spur their steeds up¬
on the shore, and with their sabres open a passage
i
for the rest of the troops. De Soto was anxious to
pass in the first boat, but his followers entreated him
not to expose his life, upon which everything de¬
pended, to so great a peril.
The moment the boats were dimly seen by the
watchful natives, a signal war-whoop rang along the
bank for miles. Five hundred warriors rushed to the
menaced spot, to prevent the landing. Such a
4
shower of arrows was thrown upon the boat that
• * • tf
►
284 FERDINAND DE SOTO.
I
€
4
every man was more or less wounded. The mo
A
ment the bows touched the beach, the steel-clad
horsemen plunged upon the foe, and cut their way
through them with blood-dripping sabres. Other
native warriors were however hurrying to the assist¬
ance of their comrades. In the meantime the
boats had with great rapidity recrossed the river, and
brought over another detachment of eighty men with
De Soto himself at their head. After a sanguinary
conflict the Spaniards obtained complete possession
of the landing place. Though unimportant skir-
■;* ’ '
mishes were kept up through the day, the remaining
troops were without difficulty brought across the
river. At nightfall not an Indian was to be seen.
They had all withdrawn and fortified themselves
(
with palisades in a neighboring swamp.
- The Spaniards found opening before them a
beautiful and fertile country, well cultivated, with
fields of corn and beans, and with many small vil¬
lages and comfortable farm-houses scattered around.
They broke up their boats for the sake of the nails,
which might prove of priceless value to them in
their future operations. Leaving the Indians unmo¬
lested in their fortress, they journeyed on five days
in a westerly direction, when they reached the
banks of another large river, which is supposed to
have been the Tombigbee.
DAYS OF DARKNESS.
285
Here De Soto found hostile Indians arrayed on
the opposite bank, ready to oppose his passage.
Anxious to avoid, if possible, any sanguinary collis-
ion with the natives, he tarried for two days, until a
canoe had been constructed by which he could send
a friendly message across to the chief. A single un-
armed Indian was dispatched m the canoe with these
words of peace. He paddled across the river, and
as soon as the canoe touched the shore the savages
rushed upon him, beat out his brains with their war-
clubs, and raising yells of defiance, mysteriously dis¬
appeared.
There being no longer any foe to oppose the
passage, the troops were easily conveyed across on
rafts. Unassailed, they marched tranquilly on for
several days, until, on the 18th of December, they
reached a small village called Chickasaw. It was
pleasantly situated on a gentle eminence, embel¬
lished with groves of walnut and oak trees, and with
m
streams of pure water running on either side. It is
su PP ose d that this village was on the Yazoo river, in
the upper part of the State of Mississippi, about two
hundred and fifty miles northwest of Mobile.
It was midwinter, and upon those high lands the
* .
weather was intensely cold. The ground was fre¬
quently encumbered with snow and ice, and the
troops, unprovided with winter clothing, suffered
286
FERDINAND DE SOTO.
severely. De Soto decided to take up his wintei
quarters at Chickasaw, there to await the returning
sun of spring. There appears to have been some-
# *
thing senseless in the wild wanderings in which De
Soto was now persisting, which have led some to
*
suppose that care, exhaustion, and sorrow had
brought on some degree of mental derangement.
However that may be, he devoted himself with
great energy to the promotion of the comfort of his
men. Foraging parties were dispatched in all direc¬
tions in search of food and of straw for bedding,
while an ample supply of fuel was collected for their
winter fires.
There were two hundred comfortable houses in
this village, and De Soto added a few more, so that
all of his men were well sheltered. So far as we can
judge from the narratives given, the native inhabit¬
ants, through fear of the Spaniards, had abandoned
>
and fled to distant parts. De Soto did
homes
Mr
everything in his power to open friendly relations
with
He su<
i
whom
1 H
k r
with presents, and with assurances of peace and
k ' .
friendship.
The Cacique returned favorable replies, and sent
to De Soto in return fruit, fish, and venison. He,
► m
however, was very careful not to expose his person to
DAYS OF DARKNESS.
287
the power of the Spaniards. His warriors, in gradu-
ally increasing numbers, ventured to enter the vil¬
lage, where they were treated by De Soto with the
greatest consideration. He had still quite a large
number of swine with him, for they had multiplied
wonderfully on the way. The Indians, having had a
taste of pork, found it so delicious that they began
to prowl around the encampment by night to steal
these animals. It is said that two Indians who were
caught in the act were shot, and as this did not
check the thievery, a third had both his hands
chopped off with a hatchet, and thus mutilated was
sent to the chief as a warning to others.
It is with great reluctance that we give any cre¬
dence to this statement. It certainly is not sus¬
tained by any evidence which would secure convic¬
tion in a court of justice. It is quite contrary to the
well-established humanity of De Soto. There can
be no possible excuse for such an act of barbarity on
the part of any civilized man. If De Soto were
guilty of the atrocity, it would, indeed, indicate that
his reason was being dethroned.
The chief had taken up his residence about three
or four miles from the village. Four of the Spanish
• % •
soldiers one night, well armed, stole from their bar¬
racks, in direct violation of orders, and repairing to
the dwelling of the Cacique, robbed him of some rich
283 FERDINAND DE SOTO.
fur mantles, and other valuable articles of clothing,
With that even-handed justice which has thus far
characterized De Soto, he who had ordered two In¬
dians to be shot for stealing his swine, now ordered
the two ringleaders in this robbery of the Indian
chief to be put to death.
The priests in the army, and most of the officers,
earnestly implored De Soto to pardon the culprits.
But he was inflexible. He would administer equal
justice to the Indian and the Spaniard. The cul¬
prits were led into the public square to be beheaded.
It so happened that, just at that time, an embas¬
sage arrived from the Cacique with complaints of the
rdbbery, and demanding the punishment of the
offenders. Juan Ortiz, the interpreter, whose sym¬
pathies were deeply moved in behalf of his com¬
rades about to be executed, adopted the following
singular and sagacious expedient to save them :
He falsely reported to the Governor that the
chief had sent his messengers to implore the for¬
giveness of the culprits—to say that their offence
was a very slight one, and that he should regard it
as a personal favor if they were pardoned and set at
liberty. The kind-hearted De Soto, thus delivered
from his embarrassment, gladly released them.
On the other hand, the tricky interpreter sent
word to the Cacique that the men who had robbed
DAYS OF DARKNESS.
V..
•M
«r
*Y.\
X -' *
=h:T.
• • • % .
2 3g
him were in close imprisonment, and that they would
be punished with the utmost severity, so as to serve
as a warning to all others.
♦
Many circumstances led De Soto to the suspi¬
cion that the chief was acting a treacherous part;
that
he was marshalling an immense army in the
vicinity to attack the Spaniards; that his pretended
friendliness was intended merely to disarm suspicion,
and that the warriors who visited the village were
spies, making preparation for a general assault. In
him
correct.
Early in the month of March there was a dark and
stormy night, and a chill north wind swept the bleak
* »
plains. The sentinels were driven to seek shelter;
no one dreamed' of peril. It was the hour for the
grand assault. Just at midnight the Cacique put
his martial bands in motion. ' They were in three
powerful divisions, the central party being led by the
chief in person. These moccasoned warriors, with
noiseless tread, stealthily approached their victims.
Suddenly the air resounded with war-whoops, blasts
of conch shells, and the clangor of wooden drums,
rising above the roar of the storm, when the sav¬
ages, like spirits of darkness, rushed upon the de¬
fenceless village. They bore with them lighted
matches, made of some combustible substance twist*
a 3
29O FERDINAND DE SOTO.
*
ed in the form of a cord, which, being waved in the
air, would blaze into flame. The village was built of
reeds, with thatch of dried grass. The torch was
b
everywhere applied ; the gale fanned the fire. In a
few minutes the whole village was a roaring furnace
of flame.
What pen can describe the scene which ensued
of tumult, terror, blood, and woe! What imagina¬
tion can conceive of the horrors of that night, when
uncounted thousands of savages, fierce as demons,
rushed upon the steel-clad veterans of Spain, not
one of whom would ask for quarter! every one of
whom would fight with sinewy arm and glittering
sabre to the last possible gasp.
' Nothing could throw the veteran Spaniards into
a panic. They always slept prepared for surprise.
In an instant every man was at his post. De Soto,
in hose and doublet, drew his
» r
armor around him, mounted his steed ever ready,
and was one of the first to dash into the densest of
the foe. Twelve armored horsemen were immedi¬
ately at his side. The arrows and javelins of the
natives glanced harmless from helmet and cuirass,
while every flash of the long, keen sabres was death
to an Indian, and the proud war-horses trampled the
corpses beneath their feet.
The fierce conflagration soon drove all alike out
who always slept
DAYS OF DARKNESS.
into the plain. Many of the Spaniards could not
escape, but perished miserably in the fire. Several
of the splendid horses were also burned. Soon all
were engaged hand to hand, fighting in a tumultu¬
ous mass by the light of the conflagration. There
was, perhaps, alike bravery on either side. But the
natives knew that if defeated they could flee to the
forests ; while to the Spaniards defeat was certain
death, or captivity worse than death to every one.
De Soto observed not far.from him an Indian
#
«
chief of herculean strength, who was fighting with
great success. He closed in upon him, and as he rose
in his saddle, leaning mainly upon the right stirrup,
4
to pierce him with his lance, the saddle, which in
f ‘
the haste had not been sufficiently girded, turned
beneath him, and he was thrown upon the ground in ■
the midst of the enemy. His companions sprang to
the rescue. Instantly he remounted, and was again
in the thickest of the foe. The battle was fierce,
bloody, and short. So many of the horsemen had
perished during their long journey that many of the
foot soldiers were protected by armor. At length
the savages were put to flight. Pursued by the
swift-footed horses, they, in their terror, to add
* 1
speed to their footsteps, threw away their weapons,
and thus fell an easy prey to the conqueror.
The Spaniards, justly exasperated in being thus
292 FERDINAND DE SOTO.
*
*
treacherously assailed by those who had assumed
the guise of friendship, pursued the fugitive so long
as they could be distinguished by the lights of the
conflagration, and cut them down without any mercy.
A bugle-blast then sounded the recall. The victors
returned to an awful scene of desolation and misery.
Their homes were all in ashes, and many of the few
comforts they had retained were consumed.. Forty
Spaniards had been slain, besides many more
wounded. Fifty horses had perished in the flames,
or had been shot by the natives. Their herd of
swine, which they prized so highly, and which they
regarded as an essential element in the establish¬
ment of their colony, had been shut up in an enclo-
sure roofed with straw, and nearly every one had
perished in the flames.
This disaster was the most severe calamity which
had befallen them. Since landing at Tampa Bay,
over three hundred men had fallen from the attacks
of the natives. De Soto was thrown into a state of
the deepest despondency. All hope seemed to be
extinguished. World-weary, and in despair, he ap¬
parently wished only to die. Distress was all around
him, with no possibility of his affording any relief.
Sadly he buried the dead of his own army, while he
left the bodies of the natives thick upon the plain, a
prey for wolves and vultures. The smouldering
DAYS OF DARKNESS. 293
f
ruins of Chickasaw were abandoned, and an encamp¬
ment was reared of logs and bark at a distance of
about three miles ; where they passed a few weeks of
great wretchedness. Bodily discomfort and mental
despondency united in creating almost intolerable
gloom.
Terribly as the natives had been punished they
soon learned the extent of the calamity they had in¬
flicted upon the Spaniards. Through their spies
they ascertained their diminished numbers, witness¬
ed their miserable plight, and had the sagacity to
perceive that they were very poorly prepared to
withstand another attack. Thus they gradually re-
' j
gained confidence, marshalled their armies anew, and
commenced an incessant series of assaults, avoiding
any general action, and yet wearing out the Span¬
iards with the expectation of such action every hour
of every night.
In the daytime, De Soto sent out his horsemen
to scour the country around in all directions for a
%
distance of ten or twelve miles. They would return
with the declaration that not a warrior was to be
%
found. But before midnight the fleet footed savages
would be swarming around the encampment, with
hideous yells, often approaching near enough to
throw in upon it a shower of arrows. Occasionally
these skirmishes became hotly contested. In one
294 FERDINAND DE SOTO.
of them forty Indians were slain, while two of the
horses of the Spaniards were killed and two severely
wounded.
In their thin clothing the Spaniards would have
%
suffered terribly from the severe cold of the nights,
but for the ingenuity of one of their number, who
invented a soft, thick, warm matting or coverlet
which he wove from some long grass that abounded
in the vicinity. Every soldier was speedily engaged
in the manufacture of these beds or blankets. They
were made several inches in thickness and about six
feet square. One half served as a mattress, and the
other folded over, became a blanket. Thus they
i
were relieved from the cold, which otherwise would
have been almost unendurable.
►
The foraging parties succeeded in obtaining a
supply of corn, beans, and dried fruit. Here De
Soto was compelled to remain, to heal his wounded,
for the remainder of the month of March. He was
very anxious to escape from the hostile region as
soon as possible. As an illustration of the scenes
which were occurring almost every night during this
♦
sad encampment, we may mention the following.
The night was cold and dark. The defiant war-
cries of the savages were heard in all directions and
no one could tell how great their numbers, or upon
what point their attack would fall. Several camp-
#
DAYS OF DARKNESS. 295
fires were built, around which horsemen were assem*
bled ready to meet the foe from whatever point, in
the darkness, he might approach. Juan De Gusman
was the leader of one of these bands. He was a
r
cavalier of high renown. In figure, he was delicate,
almost feminine, but he had the soul of a lion.
' By the light of the blazing fagots, he discerned a
numerous band of Indians stealthily approaching.
Leaping upon his horse, and followed by five com¬
panions, and a few armored footmen, he plunged in¬
to the midst of them. He aimed his javelin, at ap¬
parently the leader of the savages, a man of gigantic
stature. The Indian wrenched the lance from his
hand, seized him by the collar, and hurled - him from
his saddle to the ground. Instantly the soldiers
rushed in, with their sabers, cut the savage to pieces
and after a short conflict in which a large number of
the natives were slain, put the rest to flight.
It may seem strange that so few of the Spaniards
were killed in these terrible conflicts, in which they
often cut down hundreds and even thousands oi
|MB|
their foes. But it should be remembered that their
coats of mail quite effectually protected them from
the flint pointed arrows of the Indians. The only
vulnerable point was the face, and even this was
sometimes shielded by the visor. But the bodies of
the natives, thinly clad, were easily cut down by the
steel blades of the cavaliers.
CHAPTER XVII.
The Discovery of the Mississippi.
The Fortress of Hostile Indians.—Its Capture.—The Disastrous Con«
flict.—The Advance of the Army.—Discovery of the Mississippi
River.—Preparations for Crossing.—Extraordinary Pageants.—
Unjustifiable Attack.—The passage of the River.—Friendly Re
ception by Casquin.—Extraordinary Religious Festival.
On the
April
army broke
up its encampment, and again set out languidly on
its journey to the westward. No sounds of joy were
heard, for there was no longer hope to cheer. The
indomitable energy of De Soto dragged along the re¬
luctant footsteps of his troops. The first day they
travelled about twelve miles, through a level and fer¬
tile country with many villages and farm houses to
charm the eye. At
encamped
the territory of Chickasaw, and consequently suppos-
molested
hostile Indians.
A well armed party of cavalry and infantry was
%
sent out on a foraging expedition. They accidently
approached a strong fortress where a large number
of Indian warriors was assembled, prepared to resist
THE DISCOVERY OF THE MISSISSIPPI. 297
their march. They were very fantastically clothed,
and painted in the highest style of barbaric art, so as
to render them as hideous as possible. Immediately
upon catching sight of the Spaniards they rushed out
upon them with ferocious cries. Anasco, who was
in command of the Spanish party, seeing such over¬
whelming numbers coming upon him, retreated to an
open field, where he drew up his horses and placed
k
his crossbow men in front with their bucklers, to
protect the precious animals. At the same time he
sent hastily back to De Soto for reinforcements.
The Indians came rushing on, clashing their weap¬
ons, beating wooden drums and raisingthe warwhoop,
till they arrived within reach of the arrows of the
crossbow men. Then, somewhat appalled by the
formidable military array of the Spaniards glittering
in steel armor, they stopped and taunted their foes
from the distance, with cries of defiance and gestures
of insolence and insult.
The hot-headed Anasco found it hard to restrain
his impatience. Soon De Soto himself came, with all
his force, except a few left to guard the camp. Care¬
fully he scrutinized the fortress where these savages
had gathered their strength to crush him. It was in¬
deed a formidable structure: consisting of a quadran-
f 1
♦
gle twelve hundred feet square. There were three
entrance gates, purposely so low that mounted men
13*
298 FERDINAND DE S 010 .
■ r ,
could not enter. In the rear of the fortress there
was a deep and rapid river with steep banks, proba¬
bly the Yazoo ; in the county of Tallahatchee. The
fort was called the Alabama. Across this stream, frail
bridges were constructed, over which the Indians, in
case of necessity, could retreat, and easily destroy the
bridges behind them. Directly in the rear of the front
entrance, there was a second wall, and in the rear of
that a third; so that if the outer wall were gained,
the garrison could retreat behind one and the other.
De Soto very carefully reconnoitred the fort. He
judged that the slightest appearance of timidity, on
his part, would so embolden the savages as to expose
him to great peril. Should he avoid the confliqt, to
which he was challenged, and endeavor to escape,
by fleeing before his enemies, he would draw them
down upon him with resistless fury. Thus again he
found himself impelled to rouse all the energies of
his army for the slaughter of the poor savages.
He formed his attacking force in three columns,
to seize the three entrances. The Indians, carefully
9 ,
noting these preparations, made a simultaneous rush
upon the Spaniards, pouring in upon them an inces¬
sant volley of flint-pointed arrows. Notwithstand¬
ing the armor, many of the Spaniards were wounded,
the savages taking careful aim at those parts which
were least protected. The three storming columns
THE DISCOVERY OF THE MISSISSIPPI. 299
pressed vigorously on, while two bands of horsemen,
twenty in each, De Soto leading one of them, at-
1
tacked the tumultuous foe on each flank. The as-
M
sault was resistless. The panic-stricken savages fled
to the fortress. The entrances were clogged by the
crowd, and horsemen and footmen, with their long
sharp sabres cut down their foes with enormous
slaughter. -
In the heat of the conflict an arrow, thrown by
the sinewy arm of an Indian, struck the steel casque
of De Soto with such force that it rebounded some
sixteen feet in the air. The blow was so severe that
it almost unhorsed the Governor, and seemingly
1 ' •
caused, as he afterwards said, the fire to flash from
his eyes. As the savages rushed pell-mell into the
fortress, their pursuers were at their heels, cutting
them down. The Spaniards were exasperated.
They had sought peace, and had found only war. De
Soto had wished, in a friendly spirit, to traverse their
country, and they were hedging up his way and pur¬
suing him with relentless ferocity. He assumed that
it was necessary, for the salvation of his army, to
teach them a lesson which they would not soon for-
get.
The carnage within the fortress was dreadful.
All was inextricable confusion. It was a hand-to-
hand fight. Wooden swords fell harmless upon liel*
I
300 FERDINAND DE SOTO.
met, cuirass and buckler. But the keen and polish
ed steel of the Spaniards did fearful execution upon
the almost naked bodies of the Indians. Some
climbed the palisades and leaped down into the
plain, where they were instantly slain by the mount¬
ed troops. Others crowded through the fort and
endeavored to escape by the narrow bridges. Many
were jostled off, and in the swift current were drown¬
ed. But a few moments elapsed ere the fort was in
the hands of the Spaniards. Its floor was covered
n
by the gory bodies of the slain. Still, not a few had
escaped, some by swimming, some by the bridges.
They immediately formed in battle array upon .the
opposite bank of the river, where they supposed they
were beyond the reach of the Spaniards.
Again they raised shouts of defiance and insult.
De Soto was not in a mood to endure these taunts.
Just above the fort he found a ford. Crossing with
a squadron of horsemen, they rushed with gleaming
sabres upon the savages, and put them instantly to
flight. For more than three miles they pursued them
over the plain, till wearied with slaughter. They
I •
then returned, victors, slowly and sadly to their en¬
campment. Peace and friendship would have been
far preferable to this war and misery. Even their
t
victory was to the Spaniards a great disaster for sev¬
eral of the men were slain, and many severely
THE DISCOVERY OF THE MISSISSIPPI.
wounded. Of the latter, fifteen subsequently died.
De Soto remained four days in the encampment,
nursing the wounded, and then resumed his weary
march.
He still directed his footsteps in a westerly di¬
rection, carefully avoiding an approadh to the sea,
%
lest his troops should rise in mutiny, send for the
ships, and escape 'from the ill-starred enterprise.
This certainly indicates, under the circumstances, an
unsound, if not a deranged mind. For four days
the troops toiled along through a dismal region, un¬
inhabited, and encumbered with tangled forests and
almost impassable swamps.
*
At length they came to a small village called
Chisca, upon the banks of the most majestic stream
they had yet discovered. Sublimely the mighty flood,
a mile and a half in width, rolled by them. The cur-
9
rent was rapid and bore upon its bosom a vast
amount of trees, logs, and drift-wood, showing that its
sources must be hundreds of leagues far away, in the
unknown interior. This was the mighty Mississippi?
the * father of waters . 5 The Indians, at that point,
i
called it Chucagua. Its source and its embouchure
were alike unknown to De Soto. Little was he
then aware of the magnitude of the discovery he had
made.
“ De Soto,” says Mr. Irving, “was the first Euro-
302 FERDINAND DE SOTO.
pean who looked out upon the turbid waters of this
magnificent river; and that event has more suiely
enrolled his name among those who will ever live in
American history, than if he had discovered mines of
ft
4
silver and gold. 5 '
The Spaniards had reached the river after a four
P
days 5 march through an unpeopled wilderness. The
Indians of Chisca knew nothing of their approach,
and probably had never heard of their being in the
country. The tribe inhabiting the region of which
Chisca was the metropolis, was by no means as formi¬
dable, as many whom they had already encountered.
♦
The dwelling of the Cacique stood on a large artifi
cial mound, from eighteen to twenty feet in height
It was ascended by two ladders, which could of course
be easily drawn up, leaving the royal family thus
quite isolated from the people below.
Chisca, the chieftain, was far advanced in years, a
feeble, emaciate old man of very diminutive stature.
In the days of his prime, he had been a renowned
warrior. Hearing of the arrival of the Spaniards, he
was disposed to regard them as enemies, and seizing
his tomahawk, he was eager to descend from his cas¬
tle and lead his warriors to battle.
The contradictory statements are made that De
Soto, weary of the harassing warfare of the winter,
was very anxious to secure the friendship of these
THE DISCOVERY OF THE MISSISSIPPI. 3^3
Indians. Unless he were crazed, it must have been
so, for there was absolutely nothing to be gained,
but everything to be imperilled, by war. On the
other hand, it is said that the moment the Spaniards-
descried the village, they rushed into it, plundering
the houses, seizing men and women as captives.
Both statements may have been partially true. It is
not improbable that the disorderly troops of De So¬
to, to his great regret, were guilty of some outrages,
while he personally might have been intensely anx-
v
ious to repress this violence and cultivate only friend¬
ly relations with the natives.
, But whatever may have been the hostile or
friendly attitude assumed by the Spaniards, it is ad¬
mitted that the Cacique was disposed to wage war
▼
against the new comers. The more prudent of his
warriors urged that he should delay his attack upon
them until he had made such preparations as would
*
r
secure successful results.
“It will be best first,’’ said they, “to assemble all
the warriors of our nation, for these men are well
armed. In the meantime, let us pretend friendship
and not provoke an attack until we are strong enough
to be sure of victory.”
The irascible old chief was willing only partially
to listen to this advice. He delayed the conflict, but
did not disguise his hostility. De Soto sent to him
304
FERDINAND DE SOTO.
very
he came in
warriors
peace and .wished only for an unmolested march
through his country. The Cacique returned an an¬
gry reply, refusing all courteous intercourse.
t
The Spaniards had been but three hours in the
village when, to their surprise, they perceived an
army of four thousand warriors, thoroughly prepared
X
for battle, gathered around the mound upon which
was reared the dwelling of the chief. If so many
could be assembled in so short a time, they
feared there must be a large number in reserve who
i
could be soon drawn in. The Spaniards, in their
long marches and many battles, had dwindled away
to less than five hundred men. Four thousand
against five hundred were fearful odds ; and yet the
number of their foes might speedily be doubled or
even quadrupled. In addition to this, the plains
around the city were exceedingly unfavorable for the
movements of the Spanish army, while they present¬
ed great advantages to the nimble-footed natives, for
the region was covered with forests, sluggish streams
and bogs.
By great exertions, De Soto succeeded in effect¬
ing a sort of compromise. The Cacique consented
to allow the Spaniards to remain for six days in the
village to nurse the sick and the wounded. Food
was to be furnished them by the Cacique. At the
i
THE DISCOVERY OB THE MISSISSIPPI.
305
•f
end of six days the Spaniards were to leave, abstain-
mg entirely from pillage, from injuring the crops,
and from all other acts of violence.
4
The Cacique and all the inhabitants of the village
abandoned the place, leaving it to the sole occupancy
of the Spaniards. April, in that sunny clime, was
mild as genial summer. The natives, with their
simple habits, probably found little inconvenience in
encamping in the groves around. On the last day
of his stay, De Soto obtained permission to visit the
Cacique. He thanked the chief cordially for his
kindness and hospitality, and taking an affectionate
leave, continued his journey into the unknown re¬
gions beyond.
Ascending the tortuous windings of the river on
the eastern bank, the Spaniards found themselves,
for four days, in almost impenetrable thickets, where
there were no signs of inhabitants. At length they
came to quite an opening in the forest. A treeless
plain, waving with grass, spread far and wide around
them.
Mississipp
league in width. On the opposite bank large num-
many
battle array, while a fleet of canoes lined the shore.
De Soto decided, for some unexplained reason, to
cross the river at that point, though it was evident
that the Indians had in some way received tidings
1
FERDINAND DE SOTO.
306
of his approach, and were assembled there to dispute
his passage. The natives could easily cross the river
in their canoes, but they would hardly venture to
attack the Spaniards upon the open plain, where
there was such a fine opportunity for the charges of
their cavalrv.
Here De Soto encamped for twenty days, while
all who could handle tools were employed in build-
incr four large flat boats for the transportation of the
troops across the stream. On the second day of the
encampment, several natives from some tribe dis-
posed to be friendly, on the eastern side of the river,
visited the Spaniards. With very much ceremony
of bowing and semi-barbaric parade, they approached
De Soto, and informed him that they were commis-
i
sioned by their chief to bid him welcome to his ter¬
ritory, and to assure him of his friendly services.'.
De Soto, much gratified by this message, received
the envoys with the greatest kindness, and dismissed
them highly pleased with their reception.
Though this chief -sent. De Soto repeated mes-
sages of kindness, he did not himself visit the bpan*
ish camp, the alleged reason being, and perhaps the
true one, that he was on a sick bed. He, however,
sent large numbers of his subjects with supplies of
food, and to assist the Spaniards in drawing the tim¬
ber to construct their barges. The hostile Indians
THE DISCOVERY OF THE MISSISSIPPI. 307
1
on the opposite bank frequently crossed in their ca-
4
noesj and attacking small bands of workmen, show
ered upon them volleys of arrows, and fled again to
their boats.
One day the Spaniards, while at work, saw two
hundred canoes filled with natives, in one united
squadron, descending the river. It was a beautiful
sight to witness this fleet, crowded with decorated
and plumed warriors, their paddles, ornaments, and
burnished weapons flashing in the sunlight. They
came in true military style ; several warriors stand'
ing at the bows and stern of each boat, with large
shields of buffalo hides on their left arms, and with
bows and arrows in their hands. De Soto advanced
i *
to the shore to meet them, where he stood sur¬
rounded by his staff. The royal barge containing
the chief was paddled within a few rods of the bank.
The Cacique then rose, and addressed De Soto in
words which were translated by the interpreter as
follows:
I
“ I am informed that you are the envoy of the
most powerful monarch on the globe. I have, come
to proffer to you friendship and homage, and to as¬
sure you of my assistance in any way in which I can
be of service.”
De Soto thanked him heartily for his offers, and
• / ,
entreated him to land, assuring him he should meet
308 FERDINAND DE SOTO.
only the kindest reception. The following extra,
ordinary account of the termination of this interview,
a termination which seems incredible, is given in the
“ Conquest of Florida: ”
“ The Cacique returned no answer, but sent three
canoes on shore with presents of fruit, and bread
made of the pulp of a certain kind of plum. The
Governor again importuned the savage to. land, but
perceiving him to hesitate, and suspecting a treach¬
erous and hostile intent, marshalled his men in order
of battle. Upon this the Indians turned their prows
and fled.
“ The cross-bowmen sent a flight of arrows after
them, and killed five or six of their number. They
s
retreated in good order, covering the rowers with
their shields. Several times after this they landed
to attack the soldiers, as was supposed, but the mo¬
ment the Spaniards charged upon them they fled to
their canoes.’’
If this account be true, the attack by the Span¬
iards was as inexcusable as it was senseless. At the
end of twenty days the four barges were built and
launched. In the darkness of the night De Soto
ordered them to be well manned with rowers and
picked troops of tried prudence and courage. The
moment the bows touched the beach the soldiers
sprang ashore, to their surprise encountering no r a
THE DISCOVERY OF THE MISSISSIPPI. 309
r I
sistanee. The boats immediately returned for an¬
other load. Rapidly they passed to and fro, and
before the sun went down at the close of that day,
the whole army was transported to the western bank
of the Mississippi. The point where De Soto and
his army crossed, it is supposed, was at what is called
the lowest Chickasaw Bluff.
“The river in this place,” says the Portuguese
Narrative, “ was a mile and a half in breadth, so that
a man standing still could scarcely be discerned from
the opposite shore. It was of great depth, of won¬
derful rapidity, and very turbid, and was always
filled with floating trees and timber, carried down by
the force of the current.”
The army having all crossed, the boats were
broken up, as usual, to preserve the nails. It would
seem that the hostile Indians had all vanished, for
the Spaniards advanced four days in a westerly
direction, through an uninhabited wilderness, en¬
countering no opposition. On the fifth day they
toiled up a heavy swell of land, from whose summit
they discerned, in a valley on the other side, a large
village of about four hundred dwellings. It was situ¬
ated on the fertile banks of a stream, which is sup¬
posed to have been the St. Francis.
The extended valley, watered by this river, pre¬
sented a lovely view as far as the eye could reach
3 io
FERDINAND DE SOTO.
with luxuriant fields of Indian corn and with groves
of fruit trees. The natives had received some inti¬
mation of the approach of the Spaniards, and in
friendly crowds gathered around them, offering food
and the occupancy of their houses. Two of the
highest chieftains, subordinate to the Cacique, soon
came with an imposing train of warriors, bearing a
welcome from their chief and the offer of his services.
De Soto received them with the utmost courtesy,
and in the interchange of these friendly offices, both
Spaniards and natives became alike pleased with
each other. The adventurers remained in this vil
lage for six days, finding abundant food for them¬
selves and their horses, and experiencing in the
friendship and hospitality of the natives, joys which
certainly never were found in the horrors of war.
The province was called by the name of Kaski, and
was probably the same as that occupied by the Kas-
kaskias Indians.
#
Upon commencing anew their march they passed
through a populous and well cultivated country,
where peace, prosperity and abundance seemed to
Ik
In two days, having journeyed about twenty
reign
Mississippi
approached the chief town of the province where the
Cacique lived. It was situated, as is supposed, in the
region now called Little Prairie, in the extreme
«
THE DISCOVERY OF THE MISSISSIPPI. 3II
southern part of the State of Missouri, not far from
New Madrid. Here they found the hospitable
hands of the Cacique and his people extended to
greet them.
The residence of the chief stood upon a broad ar¬
tificial mound, sufficiently capacious for twelve or
♦
thirteen houses, which were occupied by his numer
ous family and attendants. He made De Soto a
present of a rich fur mantle, and invited him, with
his suite, to occupy the royal dwellings for their res¬
idence. De Soto politely declined this offer, as he
was unwilling thus to incommode his kind enter¬
tainer. He, however, accepted the accommodation
•1
of several houses in the village. The remainder of
the army were lodged in exceedingly pleasant bow¬
ers, skilfully, and very expeditiously constructed by
the natives, of bark and the green boughs of trees,
outside the village.
It was now the month of May. The weather was
intensely hot, and these rustic bowers were found to
be refreshingly cool and grateful. The name of this
friendly chief was Casquin. Here the army remain¬
ed for three days, without a ripple of unfriendly feel¬
ing arising between the Spaniards and the natives.
m
It was a season of unusual drouth in the country,
and on the fourth day the following extraordinary
incident occurred: Casquin, accompanied by quite
FERDINAND DE SOTO.
J
312
an imposing retinue of his most distinguished men,
came into the presence of De Soto, and stepping
forward, with great solemnity of manner, said to
X 4
trim,—
“ Senor, as you are superior to us in prowess and
surpass us in arms, we likewise believe that your God
is better than our God. These you behold before
you are the chief warriors of my dominions. We
supplicate you to pray to your God to send us rain,
for our fields are parched for the want of water.”
De Soto, who was a reflective man, of pensive
temperament and devoutly inclined, responded,—
“ We are all alike sinners, but we will pray to God,
the Father of mercies, to show his kindness to you.’*
J
He then ordered the carpenter to cut down one
of the tallest pine trees in the vicinity. It was care-
• ! t
fully trimmed and formed into a perfect, but gigan¬
tic cross. Its dimensions were such, that it required
*
the strength of one hundred men to raise and plant
it in the ground. Two days were employed in this
operation. The cross stood upon a bluff, on the
western bank of the Mississippi. The next morning
after it was reared, the whole Spanish army was call-
r
ed out to celebrate the erection of the cross, by a
solemn religious procession. A large number of the
natives, with apparent devoutness, joined in the fes*
tival.
THE DISCOVERY OF THE MISSISSIPPI. $13
Casquin and De Soto took the lead, walking side
by side. The Spanish soldiers and the native war¬
riors, composing a procession of more than a thou¬
sand persons, walked harmoniously along as brothers,
to commemorate the erection of the cross—the sym¬
bol of the Christian’s faith. The Cross ! It should be
the emblem of peace on earth and good will among
n
men. Alas! how often has it been the badge of cru¬
elty and crime.
The priests, for there were several in the army,
chanted their Christian hymns, and offered fervent
prayers. The Mississippi at this point is not veiy
broad, and it is said that upon the opposite bank
twenty thousand, natives were assembled, watching
with intensest interest the imposing ceremony, and
apparently, at times, taking part in the exercises.
When the priests raised their hands in prayer, they,
too, extended their arms and raised their eyes, as if
imploring the aid of the God of heaven and of earth.
Occasionally a low moan was heard wafted across
the river—a wailing cry, as if woe-stricken children
were imploring the aid of an Almighty Father. The
spirit of De Soto was deeply moved to tenderness
and sympathy as he witnessed this benighted people
paying, such homage to the emblem of man’s re¬
demption. After several prayers were offered, the
whole procession, slowly advancing two by two, knelt
14
314 FERDINAND DE SOTO.
before the cross, as in brief ejaculatory prayer, and
kissed it. All then returned with the same solem¬
nity to the village, the priests chanting the grand an*
them, “ Te Deum Laudamus.”
Thus more than three hundred years ago the
cross, significant of the religion of Jesus, was planted
upon the banks of the Mississippi, and the melody
of Christian hymns was wafted across the silent
waters, and was blended with the sighing of the
breeze through the tree-tops. It is sad to reflect
how little of the spirit of that religion has since been
manifested in those realms in man’s treatment of his
brother man.
It is worthy of especial notice that upon the night
succeeding this eventful day clouds gathered, and
the long-looked-for rain fell abundantly. The devout
Las Casas writesj
“ God, in his mercy, willing to show these hea¬
then that he listeneth to those who call upon him in
truth, sent down, in the middle of the ensuing night,
a plenteotos rain, to the great joy of the Indians.”
CHAPTER XVIII.
Vagrant Wanderings .
*
Trickery of Casquin.—The March to Capaha.—The Battle and it*
Results.—Friendly Relations with Capaha.—The Return Jour¬
ney.— -The March Southward.—Salt Springs.—The Savages of
Tulu.—Their Ferocity.—Anecdote.—Despondency of De Soto.
*
It is painful to recall the mind from these peace¬
ful, joy-giving, humanizing scenes of religion, to bar¬
baric war—its crime, carnage, and misery. It is an
affecting comment upon the fall of man, that far
away in this wilderness, among these tribes that
n
might so have blessed and cheered each other by
fraternal love, war seems to have been the normal
condition. After a residence of nine days in this
village, beneath truly sunny skies, in the enjoyment
of abundance, and cheered by fruits, flowers, and
bird-songs, the Spanish army again commenced its
march in the wild and apparently senseless search
for gold.
The Cacique, Casquin, was about fifty years of
age. He begged permission to accompany De Soto
to the next province, with his whole army in its best
military array, and with a numerous band of attend'
31 6 FERDINAND DE SOTO.
ants to carry provisions and to gather wood and fod¬
der for the encampments. De Soto cheerfully accept¬
ed this friendly offer. But he soon found that it was
hatred, not love, which was the impelling motive;
that the chief was incited by a desire to make war, not
to cultivate peace.' The chief of the next province
was a redoubtable warrior named Capaha. His ter¬
ritories were extensive; his subjects numerous and
martial. Time out of mind there had been warfare
u
between these two provinces, the subjects of each
hating each other implacably.
Capaha had in recent conflicts been quite the vic¬
tor, and Casquin thought this a good opportunity,
«
with the Spaniards for his powerful allies, to take
signal vengeance upon his foe. Of this De Soto, at
the time, knew nothing.
I
_
The army commenced its march. There were
five thousand native warriors who accompanied him,
plumed, painted, and armed in the highest style of
savage art. There were three thousand attendants,
who bore the supplies, and who were also armed with
bows and arrows. Casquin, with his troops, took the
lead; wishing, as he said, to clear the road of any
obstructions, to drive off any lurking foes, and to
prepare at night the ground for the comfortable en¬
campment of the Spaniards. His troops were in a
good state of military discipline, and marched in well
VAGRANT WANDERINGS. 317
organized array about a mile and a half in advance
of the Spaniards.
Thus they travelled for three uneventful days,
until they reached an immense swamp, extending
back unknown miles from the Mississippi. This was
the frontier line which bordered the hostile provinces
of Casquin and Capaha. Crossing it with much diffi-
. 1 \
culty, they encamped upon a beautiful prairie upon
the northern side. A journey of two days through a
sparsely inhabited country brought them to the more
fertile and populous region of the new province.
Here they found the capital of the Cacique. It was
a well fortified town of about five hundred large
houses, situated upon elevated land, which com¬
manded an extensive view of the country around.
One portion of the town was protected by a deep
ditch, one hundred and fifty feet broad. The higher
portion was defended by a strong palisade. The
ditch, or canal, connected with the Mississippi river,
which was nine miles distant.
Capaha, hearing suddenly of the arrival of so
formidable a force, fled down the canal in a curve, to
an island in the river, where he summoned his war*
riors to meet him as speedily as possible. Casquin,
marching as usual a mile and a half in advance, find¬
ing the town unprotected, and almost abandoned,
entered and immediately commenced all the ravages
3 IS FERDINAND DE SOTO.
of savage warfare. One hundred men, women and
children, caught in the place, were immediately seiz¬
ed, the men killed and scalped, the women and boys
• t
made captives. To gratify their vengeance, they
broke into the mausoleum, held so sacred by the In¬
dians, where the remains of all the great men of the
*
tribe had been deposited. They broke open the cof¬
fins, scattered the remains over the floor and tramp¬
led them beneath their feet.
It is said that Casquin, would have set fire to the
mausoleum, and laid it and the whole village in ashes,
but that he feared that he might thus incur the an¬
ger of De Soto. When the Governor arrived and saw
what ravages had been committed by those who had
come as his companions, friends and allies, he was
greatly distressed. Immediately he sent envoys to
*
Capaha on the island, assuring him of his regret in
view of the outrages ; that neither he, nor his sol¬
diers, had in the slightest degree participated in them,
and that he sought only friendly relations with the
Cacique. ,
Capaha, who was a proud warrior, and who had
retired but for a little time that he might marshal
i
his armies to take vengeance on the invaders, return¬
ed an indignant and defiant answer; declaring that
he sought no peace but that he would wage war to
the last extremity.
VAGRANT WANDERINGS.
319
Again De Soto found himself in what may be call¬
ed a false position. The chief Capaha and his people
were exasperated against him in the highest degree.
The nation was one of the most numerous and pow¬
erful on the Mississippi. Should the eight thousand
allies, who had accompanied him from Kaska, and
who had plunged him into these difficulties, with¬
draw, he would be left entirely at the mercy of these
fierce warriors.. From ten to twenty thousand might
rush upon his little band, now numbering but about
four hundred, and their utter extermination could
hardly be doubtful. Under these circumstances he
decided to attempt to conquer a peace. Still he
made other efforts, but in vain, to conciliate the just¬
ly enraged chieftain. He then prepared for war.
*
However severely he may be censured for this decis¬
ion, it is the duty of the impartial historian to state
those facts which may in some degree modify the se¬
verity of judgment.
A large number of canoes were prepared, in
which two hundred Spaniards and three thousand
Indians embarked to attack Capaha upon his island,
before he had time to collect a resistless force of war¬
riors. They found the island covered with a dense
forest, and the chief and his troops strongly intrench¬
ed. The battle was fought with great fury, the Span ■
ish soldiers performing marvellous feats of bravery,
4
320 FERDINAND DE SOTO.
*
C
strength and endurance. The warriors of Capaha,
who fought with courage equal to that of the Span¬
iards, and struck such dismay into the more timid
troops of Gasquin, that they abandoned their allies
and fled tumultuously to their canoes, and swiftly
paddled away.
De Soto, thus left to bear the whole brunt of the
hostile army, was also compelled to retreat. He did
this in good order, and might have suffered terribly
in the retreat but for the singular and, at the time,
unaccountable fact that Capaha withdrew his war
riors and allowed the Spaniards to embark unmolest¬
ed. It would seem that the sagacious chieftain, im¬
pressed by the wonderful martial prowess displayed
by the Spaniards, and by the reiterated proffers of
9
peace and friendship which had been made to him,
and despising the pusillanimity of the troops of Cas-
quin, whom* he had always been in the habit of con¬
quering, thought that by detaching the Spaniards
from them he could convert De Soto and his bai>d
into friends and allies. Then he could fall upon the
Indian army, and glut his vengeance, by repaying
them tenfold for all the outrages they had commit¬
ted.
Accordingly, the next morning, four ambassadors
of highest rank visited the Spanish encampment.
De Soto and Casquin were together. The ambassa-
VAGRANT WANDERINGS. 321
*
dors bowed to De Soto with profound reverence, but
disdainfully took no notice whatever of Casquin.
The speaker then said,—
“We have come, in the name of our chief, to im-
♦
plore the oblivion of the past and to offer to you his
friendship and homage.”
De Soto was greatly relieved by the prospect of
this termination of the difficulties in which he had
found himself involved. He treated the envoys with
great affability, reciprocated- all their friendly utter¬
ances, and they returned to Capaha highly pleased
with their reception.
Casquin was very indignant. He did everything
in his power to excite the hostility of De Soto
against Capaha, but all was in vain. The Governor
was highly displeased with the trick Casquin had
played upon him, in setting out on a military expe-
4
dition under the guise of an honorary escort. He
despised the cowardice which Casquin’s troops had
evinced in the battle, and he respected the courage
which Capaha had exhibited, and the frankness and
magnanimity of his conduct. He therefore issued
orders to his own and the native army that no one
should inflict any injury whatever, either upon the
persons or the property of the natives of the prov¬
ince. He allowed Casquin to remain in his camp and
under his protection for a few days, but compelled
14 *
322
FERDINAND DE SOTO.
M
him to send immedietely home the whole body of
his followers, retaining merely enough vassals for his
personal service.
The next morning Capaha himself, accompanied
by a train of one hundred of his warriors, fearlessly
returned to his village. He must have had great
confidence in the integrity of De Soto, for by this
act he placed himself quite in the power of the Span¬
iards. Immediately upon entering the village, he
visited the desecrated mausoleum of his ancestors,
and in silent indignation repaired, as far as possible,
the injury which had been done. He then proceeded
to the headquarters of De Soto. The Spanish Gov¬
ernor and Casquin were seated together.
Capaha was about twenty-six years of age, of very
fine person and of frank and winning manners. With
great cordiality he approached De Soto, reiterating
his proffers of friendship, and his earnest desire that
kindly feelings should be cherished between them.
Casquin he treated with utter disdain, paying no
more attention to him than if he had not been pres¬
ent. For some time the Indian Cacique and the
Spanish Governor conversed together with perfect
1
frankness and cordiality. A slight pause occurring in
their discourse, Capaha fixed his eyes sternly for a
moment upon Casquin and said, in tones of strong
indignation,
VAGRANT WANDERINGS. 32$
“ You, Casquin, undoubtedly exult in the thought
that you have revenged your past defeats. This you
never could have done through your own strength.
You are indebted to these strangers for what you
have accomplished. Soon they will go on their way.
But we shall be left in this country as we were be¬
fore. We shall then meet again. Pray to the gods
that they may send us good weather.”
De Soto humanely did everything in his power
to promote reconciliation between the hostile chief¬
tains. But all was in vain. Though they treated
each other with civility, he observed frequent inter¬
changes of angry glances.
n
• \
The Spaniards found, in this town, a great variety
of valuable skins of deer, panthers, buffalo and bears.
Taught by the Indians, the Spaniards made them¬
selves very comfortable moccasons of deerskin, and
also strong bucklers, impervious to arrows, of buffalo
hide.
After making minute and anxious inquiries for
gold, and ascertaining that there was none to be
found in that direction, De Soto turned his despond¬
ing steps backwards to Kaska. Here he remained
for four days, preparing for a march to the south-
ward. He then continued his progress nine days
down the western bank of the river, until, on the
fourth of August, he reached a province called Qu ; -
324 FERDINAND DE SOTO.
gate. His path had led him through a populous
country, but the Indians made no attempt to molest
I
his movements. It is supposed that Quigate must
have been on the White river, about forty or fifty
miles from its mouth. Here De Soto learned that,
faraway in the northwest there was a range of moun¬
tains, and there he thought might perhaps be the
gold region of which he had so long been in search.
Immediately he put his soldiers in motion, led by
a hope which was probably rejected by every mind
in the army, except his own. A single Indian guide
led them on a weary tramp for many days, through
dreary morasses and tangled forests. They at length
came to a village called Coligoa, which is supposed
to have been upon the banks of White river. The
natives at first fled in terror at their approach, but as
no hostility was manifested by the Spaniards, they
soon gained confidence, and returned with kind
words and presents. But there was no gold there,
and no visions of gold in the distance.
The chief informed De Soto that there was a very
rich and populous province about thirty miles to the
south, where the inhabitants were in the enjoyment
of a great abundance of the good things of life.
%
Again the Spaniards took up their line of march in
v
that direction. They found a fertile and quite thick-
l}- inhabited country on their route. The Indians
*
were friendly, and seemed to have attained a degree
of civilization superior to that of most of the tribes
they had as yet visited. The walls of the better
class of houses were hung with deer-skins, so softly
tanned and colored that they resembled beautiful
tapestry. The floors were also neatly carpeted with
richly decorated skins.
The Spaniards seem to have travelled very slowly,
for nine days were occupied in reaching Tanico, in
the Cayas country, which was situated probably up¬
on Saline river, a branch of the Washita. Here they
found some salt springs, and remained several days
to obtain a supply of salt, of which they were greatly
in need. Turning their steps towards the west, still
groping blindly, hunting for gold, they journeyed
four days through a barren and uninhabited region,
when suddenly they emerged upon a wide and
blooming prairie.
In the centre, at the distance of about a couple
of miles, between two pleasant streams, they saw
quite a large village. It was midday, and the Gov¬
ernor encamped his army in the edge of the grove,
on the borders of the plain. In the afternoon, with a
strong party of horse and foot, he set out upon a re-
connoitering excursion. As he approached the vil¬
lage the inhabitants, men and women, sallied forth
and attacked him with great ferocity. De Soto was
326
FERDINAND DE SOTO.
not a man ever to turn his back upon his assailants
The Spaniards drew their sabres, and, all being in
horsemen
them
m
men
The natives fought like tigers from doors, win¬
dows, and housetops. The exasperated Spaniards,
smarting with their wounds, and seeing many of their
comrades already slain, cut down their foes remorse¬
lessly. The women fell before their blows as well as
for the women fought with unrelenting
fierceness which the Spaniards had never seen sur¬
passed. Night came on while the battle still raged,
With no prospect of its termination. De Soto with-
i >
drew his troops from the village, much vexed at hav-
ing allowed himself to be drawn into so useless a
conflict, where there was nothing to be gained, and
in killed,
men
where he had lost several valuable
while many more were wounded.
The next morning De Soto put his whole army
in motion and advanced upon the village. They
found it utterly abandoned.
Strong parties were
sent out in all directions to capture some of the
natives, that De Soto might endeavor to enter into
friendly relations with them. But it seemed impossi
ble to take any one alive. They were as untamable
and as savage as bears and wolves, fighting against
VAGRANT WANDERINGS.
327
any odds to the last gasp. Both women and men were
exceedingly ill-looking, with shapeless heads, which
were said to have been deformed by the compression
of bandages in infancy. The province was called
Tula, and the village was situated, it is supposed, be-
Wachita
Missouri.
The Spaniards remained in the village four days,
when suddenly, in the darkness of midnight, the war-
whoop resounded from three different directions, and
three large bands of native warriors, who had so
stealthily approached as to elude the vigilance of the
sentinels, plunged into the village in a simultaneous
Egyptian
almost
• / u
impossible to distinguish friend from foe. The Span¬
iards, to avoid wounding each other, incessantly
V irgin
The savages were
*
armed with bows and arrows and with javelins,
heavy, sharp-pointed, and nine or ten feet in length,
which could be used either as clubs or pikes. Wield-
sinewy
formidable
The battle raged with unintermitted fury till the
dawn of the morning. The savages then, at a given
signal, fled simultaneously to the woods. The Span
iards did not pursue them. Thoroughly armored as
*
328 FERDINAND DE SOTO.
they were, but four of their number were killed, but
many were severely wounded. It was nearly twenty
• • * r
days before the wounded were so far convalescent
that the army could resume its march. The follow¬
ing incident illustrates the almost unexampled ferocity
of these barbaric warriors:
The morning after the battle a large number of
the Spanish soldiers, thoroughly armed, were explor-
*
ing the fields around the village, on foot and on
horseback. Three foot soldiers and two mounted
%
men were in company. One of them saw in a thicket
*
an Indian raise his head and immediately conceal it.
The foot soldier ran up to kill him. The savage
n
rose, and with a ponderous battle-axe which he had
won from the Spaniards the day before, struck the
shield of the Spaniard with such force as to cut it in
two, at the same time severely wounding his arm.
The blow was so violent and the wound so severe,
that the soldier was rendered helpless. The savage
then rushed upon another of the foot soldiers, and in
the same way effectually disabled him.
One of the horsemen, seeing his companions thus
roughly handled, put spurs to his steed and charged
upon the Indian. The savage sprang to the trunk
of an oak tree, whose low hanging branches pre¬
vented the near approach of the trooper. Watch*
ing his opportunity, he sprang forth and struck the
VAGRANT WANDERINGS.
horse such a terrible blow with his axe as to render
animal
Just
moment the gallant Gonsalvo Sylvestre came up.
The Indian rushed upon him, swinging his battle-axe
W
in both hands; but Sylvestre warded the blow so
that the axe glanced over his shield and buried its
edge deeply in the ground.
Instantly the keen sabre of Sylvestre fell upon
the savage, laying open his face and breast with a
fearful gash, and so severing his right hand from the
arm that it hung only by the skin. The desperate
Indian, seizing the axe: between the bleeding stump
a-nd the other hand, attempted to strike another
blow. Again Sylvestre warded off the axe with his
k
shield, and with one blow of his sword upon the
waist of the naked Indian so nearly cut his body in
two that he fell dead at his feet.
During the time the Spaniards tarried in Tula
many foraging excursions were sent out to various
parts of the province. The region was populous and
• fertile, but it was found impossible to conciliate in
any degree the hostile inhabitants.
Again the soldiers were in motion. They direct*
ed their steps towards the northwest, towards a pro*
vince named Utiangue, which was said to be situated
on the borders of a great lake, at the distance of
about two hundred and forty miles. They hoped
330
FERDINAND DE SOTO.
mi
which they could open, communications with their
friends in Cuba, and return to them by water. The
journey was
• *v
desolate country occu
in the extreme, through a
by wandering bands of
ferocious savages, who were constantly assailing them
from ambuscades by day and by night.
At length they reached the village of Utiangue,
the capital of the province. It was pleasantly situ¬
ated on a fine plain upon the banks of a river,
*
which was probably the Arkansas. Upon the ap-
inhabitants had aban-
proach of the Spaniards
doned the place, leaving their granaries well stocked
with
corn, beans, nuts, and plums. The meadows
surrounding the town offbfcd excellen|i||§sturage for
« v* \ P/, • •nH#,*' ».• •. •••• • •} • *,• Sjri r
the horses. As the season jpg
*>
Soto decided to take up
De
He fortified the place,
palisades. To lay in ample- stores for the whole win¬
ter, foraging parties were sent out, who returned
4 .
laden with dried fruits, corn, and other grain.
Deer ranged the forests in such numbers that
large quantities of venison were
also were in abundance. The Cacique, who kept
himself aloof, sent several messengers to De Soto,
but they so manifestly came merely as spies, and
always in the night, that De Soto gave orders that
VAGRANT WANDERINGS.
331
none should be admitted save in the day-time. One
persisting to enter was killed by a sentinel. This put
an end to all intercourse between De Soto and the
chief; but the Spaniards were assaulted whenever
the natives could take any advantage of them on
their foraging expeditions. .
Here the Spaniards enjoyed on the whole, the
most comfortable winter they had experienced since
they entered Florida. Secure from attack in their
fortified town, sheltered from the weather in their
sufficient
almost
comforts they then enjoyed with the frightful suffer¬
ings they had hitherto experienced. During the win-
met
J
In
reference to his services, Mr. Pickett says:
“Understanding only the Floridian language, he
conducted conversations through the Indians of dif¬
ferent tribes who understood each other and who at¬
tended the expedition. In conversing with the
Chickasaws, for instance, he commenced with the
* M
Floridian, who carried the word to a Georgian, the
Georgian to the Coosa, the Coosa to the Mobilian,
and the latter to the Chickasaw. In the same tedi¬
ous manner the reply was conveyed to him and re
ported to De Soto.’’
3 2
FERDINAND DE SOTO.
During the winter at Utiangue, the views and
feelings of the Governor apparently experienced quite
a change. His hopes of finding gold seem ail to have
vanished. He was far away in unknown wilds, hav¬
ing lost half his troops and nearly all his horses. The
few horses that remained, were many of them lame,
not having been shod for more than a year. He
i
did not hesitate to confess, confidentially to his
friends, his regret that he had not joined the ships at
♦
Pensacola. He now despairingly decided to abandon
these weary and ruinous wanderings, and to return to
the Mississippi river. Here he would establish a
fortified colony, build a couple of brigantines, send
them to Cuba with tidings of safety to his wife, and
procure reinforcements and supplies. It seems that
his pride would not allow him to return himself a
ruined man to his friends.
With the early spring he broke up his canton-
march
Missis¬
sippi
He had heard of a village called Anilco, at
the mouth of a large stream emptying into that
majestic river. They followed down the sputh side
of the Arkansas river for ten days, when they crossed
i
on rafts to the north or east side. It was probably
the intention of De Soto to reach the Mississippi
nearly at the point at which they had crossed it be¬
fore.
VAGRANT WANDERINGS. 333
Continuing his journey through morasses and
min grounds, where the horses often waded up to
their girths in water, where there were few inhabi¬
tants, and little food to be obtained, he at length
reached the village of Anilco, and found it to be on the
northern bank of the Arkansas river. Here he learn-
4
ed that, at the distance of some leagues to the south,
there was a populous and fertile country such as he
thought would be suitable for the establishment of
• i • • • V ' •
his colony. Again he crossed the Arkansas river to
the south side, and moving in a southerly direction
reached the Mississippi at a village called Guachoya,
about twenty miles below the mouth of the Arkan¬
sas river.
CHAPTER XIX.
fr i * •*
^ ••
, .. • • .
Death of De Soto .
V • r # ♦
• * _ , . <
< ... * .
L
Ascent of the Mississippi.—Revenge of Guachoya.—Sickness of De So
to.—Affecting Leave-taking.—His Death and BuriaL—The March
for Mexico.—Return to the Mississippi.—Descent of the River.—
, . . i . • . «
Dispersion of the Expedition.—Death of Isabella.
. %
. i *
The village of Guachoya was situated on a bluff
on the western bank of the Mississippi, and was
4
strongly fortified with palisades. De Soto succeeded
in establishing friendly relations with the chief, and
was hospitably entertained within the town. The
Cacique and Governor ate at the same table, and
were served by Indian attendants. Still, for some un¬
explained reason, the Cacique with his warriors retir¬
ed at sunset in their canoes, to the eastern side of
the Mississippi, and did not return till after sunrise
the next morning.
De Soto’s great anxiety now was to get access
to the ocean. But he could, not learn that the Ca¬
cique had ever heard of such a body of water. He
then sent Juan de Anasco with eight horsemen to fol¬
low down the banks of the river in search of the sea.
They returned in eight days, having explored but
f
DEATH OF DE SOTO.
335
about fifty miles, in consequence of the windings of
the stream and the swamps which bordered its banks.
Upon this discouraging information, the Governor de-
t
cided to build two brigantines at Guachoya, and to
establish his colony upon some fertile fields which he
had passed between Anilco and that place. This
rendered it very important for him to secure abiding
friendly relations with the chiefs of both of these
provinces.
The territory indeed upon which he intended to
settle, was within the province of Anilco, and on the
north bank of the Arkansas. The chief Guachoya,
very kindly offered to supply De Soto with eighty
small canoes, with which a portion
many
miles to the mouth
Mis.
Ar
kansas, and then ascending that stream about forty
1
miles
ment.
mill
tary force in light marching order, would proceed by
land so as to reach the spot about the same time as
the canoes.
Four thousand Indian warriors embarked in these
4
canoes, and in three days accomplished the voy¬
age. At the same time, the land forces commenced
j
their march. The Cacique led two thousand war-
ripfS, besides the attendants. Mr. Irving writes:
33^ FERDINAND DE SOTO.
“ The two expeditions arrived safely at the time
opposite the village. The chief of Anilco was ab¬
sent, but the inhabitants of the place made a stand
at the pass of the river. Nufio Toba fell furiously
upon them with a party of horse. Eager for the
♦
fight, they charged so heedlessly that each trooper
found himself surrounded by a band of Indians.
The poor savages, however, were so panic-stricken
that they turned their backs upon the village, and
fled in wild disorder to the forests, amid the shouts
of the pursuers, and the shrieks and cries of the
women and children.
u On entering the conquered village, they massa¬
cred all they met, being chiefly old men, women and
children, inflicting the most horrible barbarities.
“ In all this they acted in such fury and haste,
that the mischief was effected almost before De Soto
was aware of it. He put an end to the carnage as
speedily as possible, reprimanded the Cacique se-
• I
verely, forbade any one to set fire to a house, or in¬
jure an Indian under pain of death, and hastened to
leave the village, taking care that tin* Indian allies
should be the first to pass the river, and none re¬
mained behind to do mischief.’’
From this untoward enterprise De Soto returned
* *
to the village of Guachoya, renouncing all idea of es
tablishing his colony in Anilco. He immediately
337
DEATH OF LE SOTO.
*
commenced with all energy building his two brigan¬
tines* while he looked anxiously about in search of
some region of fertiiity and abundance, where his
army could repose till the envoys should bring back
a sufficient fleet to transport those to Cuba who
should wish to return there, and could also bring
those reinforcements and supplies essential to the
establishment of the colony. The river at this point
was about a mile and a half in width. The country
on both sides was rich in fertility, and thickly inhab¬
ited.
Upon
ed Q
De
heard such
frlowinp - renorts that he sent an exploring party to
examine the country. By fastening four canoes to¬
gether, he succeeded in transporting the horses
across the stream. To his disappointment he found
the Cacique deadly hostile. He sent word to De
^ <>i M«. • •
Soto that he would wage a war of utter exteiruina¬
tion against him and his people, should they attempt
to invade his territories.
Care, fatigue and sorrow now began to show their
traces upon the Governor. He could not disguise
the deep despondency which oppressed him. His
step became feeble, his form emaciate, his counten¬
ance haggard. A weary, grief-worn pilgrim, he was
in a mood to welcome death, as life presented him
15
FERDINAND DE SOTO.
338
nothing more to hope for. A slow fever aggravated
by the climate, placed him upon a sick bed. Here,
the victim of the most profound melancholy, he was
informed that the powerful chief, Quigualtanqui, was
forming a league of all the neighboring tribes for the
extermination of the Spaniards. De Soto’s arm was
paralyzed and his heart was broken. He had fought
his last battle. His words were few; his despon¬
dency oppressed all who approached his bedside.
Day after day the malady increased until the fever
rose so high, that it was manifest to De Soto, and to
all his companions, that his last hour was at hand.
Calmly and with the piety of a devout Catholic,
he prepared for death. Luis De Moscoso was ap¬
pointed his successor in command of the army, and
also the successor of whatever authority and titles
De Soto might possess, as Governor of Florida. He
called together the officers and most prominent sol¬
diers, and with the trembling voice of a dying man
administered to them the oath of obedience to Mus-
coso. He then called to his bedside, in groups of
three persons, the cavaliers who had so faithfully fol¬
lowed him through his long and perilous adventures,
and took an affectionate leave of them. The com¬
mon soldiers were then, in groups of about twenty,
brought into the death chamber, and tenderly he
bade them adieu.
DEATH OF DE SOTO.
339
• These war-worn veterans wept bitterly in taking
leave of their beloved chief. It is worthy of record
that he urged them to do all in their power to con-
k
vert the natives to the Christian religion ; that he im¬
plored the forgiveness of all whom he had in any
way offended; and entreated them to live as broth-
♦
ers, loving and helping one another. On the seventh
day after he was attacked by the fever, he expired.
u He died ” writes the Inca, “ like a Catholic Chris¬
tian, imploring mercy of the most Holy Trinity, rely¬
ing on the protection of the blood of Jesus Christ
our Lord, and the intercession of the Virgin and of
all the celestial court, and in the faith of the Roman
church. With these words repeated many times, he
resigned his soul to God; this magnanimous and
*
never-conquered cavalier, worthy of great
and titles, and deserving a better historian than a
rude Indian.”
Thus perished De Soto, in the forty-second year
of his age. His life, almost from the cradle to the
grave, had been filled with care, disappointment and
sorrow. When we consider the age in which he
lived, the influences by which he was surrounded,
and the temptations to which he was exposed, it
must be admitted that he developed many noble
traits of character, and that great allowances should
be made for his defects.
340 FERDINAND DE SOTO.
The Governor had won the confidence and affec*
tion of his army to an extraordinary degree. He was
ever courteous in his demeanor, and kind in his treat¬
ment. He shared all the hardships of his soldiers,
placed himself in the front in the hour of peril, and
was endowed with that wonderful muscular strength
and energy which enabled him by his achievements
often to win the admiration of all his troops. His
death overwhelmed the army with grief. They
feared to have it known by the natives, for his re¬
nown as a soldier was such as to hold them in awe.
It was apprehended that should his death be
known, the natives would be encouraged to revolt,
k
and to fall with exterminating fury upon the handful
of Spaniards now left in the land. They therefore
%
4 1
“ buried him silently at dead of night.” Sentinels
were carefully posted to prevent the approach of any
of the natives. A few torches lighted the procession
• to a sandy plain near the encampment, where his
body was interred, with no salute fired over his grave
or even any dirge chanted by the attendant priests.
The ground was carefully smoothed over so as to ob-
iterate as far as possible all traces of the burial.
The better to conceal his death, word was given
. •. • /
out the next morning that he was much better, and
a joyous festival was arranged in honor of his con-
n
valesrence. Still the natives were not deceived
DEATH OF DE SOTO.
341
They suspected that he was dead, and even guessed
the place of his burial. This was indicated by the
fact that they frequently visited the spot, looking
around with great interest, and talking together
with much volubility.
One mode of revenge adopted by the natives
was to disinter the body of an enemy and expose
the remains to every species of insult. It was
feared that as soon as the Spaniards should have
1
withdrawn from the region, the body of De Soto
might be found and exposed to similar outrages.
It was therefore decided to take up the remains and
sink it in the depths of the river.
In the night, Juan De Afiasco, with one or two
companions, embarked in a canoe, and, by sound¬
ing, found a place in the channel of the river nearly
a hundred and twenty feet deep. They cut down
an evergreen oak, whose wood is almost as solid
its final coffin, was taken at midnight to the cen-
A
tre of the river, where it immediately sank to its
deep burial. The utmost silence was preserved, and
every precaution adopted to conceal the movement
from all but those engaged in the enterprise.
“ The discoverer of the Mississippi,” writes the
342 FERDINAND DE SOTO.
-M
Inca, “ slept beneath its waters. He had crossed a
large part of the continent in search of gold, and
found nothing so remarkable as his burial-place.”
Upon the death of De Soto, a council of war was
held to decide what to do in the new attitude of
affairs. In their exhausted state, and with their
diminished numbers, they could not think of at¬
tempting a march back for hundreds of leagues
through hostile nations, to Tampa Bay. It would
take a long time to build their brigantines and to
await an arrival from Cuba. In the meantime there
was great danger that they might be attacked and
destroyed by the powerful league then forming
against them.
A rumor had reached them that a large number
r
of Spaniards were in Mexico, not very far to the
westward ; that they were powerful in numbers, con¬
quering all before them, and enriching themselves
with the spoils of a majestic empire. It was conse¬
quently determined to march with all speed in that
direction, and join this Spanish -army in its career of
Mexican conquest.
Early in the month of June they commenced
their march in a line due west. Their geographical
knowledge was so limited that they were not aware
that they were in a latitude far above the renowned
city of the Montezumas.
DEATH OF DE SOTO.
343
Day after day the troops pressed on, through
many sufferings and weary marches. On the way,
one of their number, Diego De Guzman, a very am¬
bitious young cavalier of high rank and wealthy con¬
nections, fell so passionately in love with the beauti¬
ful daughter of a Cacique that he deserted from the
army to remain with her. She was but eighteen
years of age, of very amiable spirit, and of unusual
gracefulness of form and loveliness of feature. Mos-
coso sent an embassy to the Cacique, demanding the
4
return of Guzman as a deserter, and threatening, in
case of refusal, to lay waste his territory with fire and
sword. The chief sent back the heroic reply
“ I have used no force to detain Diego De Guz¬
man. I shall use no force to compel him to depart.
On the contrary I shall treat him as a son-in-law,
with all honor and kindness, and shall do the same
with any others of the strangers who may choose to
If for thus doing my duty you
t
think proper to lay waste my lands and slay my peo¬
ple, you can do so. The power is in your hands.’’
that this manly reply disarmed
Moscoso, for the Spanish army continued its journey,
leaving Guzman behind. Onward and still onward
the weary men pressed, wading morasses, forcing
their way through tangled forests, crossing rivers on
rafts; now hungry and now thirsty, again enjoying
me
seem
544 -FERDINAND DE SOTO.
abundance ; sometimes encountering hostility from
the natives, when they took fearful vengeance, apply-
*
ing the torch to their villages and again enjoying
the hospitality of the natives, until having traversed
a region of about three hundred miles in breadth,
they supposed they had reached the confines of
Mexico.
r
They had no suitable interpreters with them.
The most contrary impressions were received from
the attempts they made to obtain intelligence from
4
the Indians. Lured by false hopes, they wandered
about here and there, ever disappointed in their
hopes of finding the white men. Entering a vast
uninhabited region, they found their food exhausted,
and but for the roots and herbs they dug up, would
have perished from hunger.
The Spaniards were in despair. They were lost
4
in savage wilds, surrounded by a barbarous and hos¬
tile people, with whom, for want of an interpreter,
they could hold no intelligible communication. They
ft
ft
had now been wandering in these bewildering mazes
for three months. Mountains were rising before
them ; dense forests were around. They had proba¬
bly reached the hunting-grounds of the Pawnees and
Comanches It was the month of October; winter
would soon be upon them. A council of war was
called, and after much agitating debate, it was at
DEATH OF DE SOTO. 345
length decided, as the only refuge from perishing in
the wilderness, to retrace their steps to the Missis¬
sippi.
Forlorn, indeed, were their prospects now. They
had made no attempt to conciliate the natives
through whose provinces they had passed, and they
could expect to encounter only hostility upon every
step of their return. The country also, devastated in
their advance, could afford but little succor in their
retreat. Their worst fears were realized. Though
they made forced marches, often with weary feet,
I
late into the night, they were constantly falling into
ambuscades, and had an almost incessant battle to
fight.
Before they reached the Arkansas river the severe
weather of winter set in. They were drenched with
rains, pierced with freezing gales, and covered with
the mud through which they were always wading.
Their European clothing had long since vanished.
Their grotesque and uncomfortable dress consisted
principally of skins belted around their waists and
over their shoulders; they were bare-legged. Many
of them had neither shoes nor sandals ; a few had
hardest to be borne, their spirits were all broken, and
<
they were sunk in despondency which led them to
the very verge of despair.
15 *
346
FERDINAND DE SOTO.
9
Every day some died. One day, seven dropped
by the wayside. The Spaniards could hardly stop to
give them burial, for hostile Indians were continually
rising before, behind, and on each side of them. At
length, early in December, they reached the banks
of the Mississippi near the mouth of the Arkansas.
The noble army with which De Soto left Spain
but three and a half years before, had dwindled away
men
these gained this refuge only to die. Fifty of these
wanderers, exhausted by hunger, toil and sorrow,
com
found repose in the grave. Soon the survivors
menced building seven brigantines to take them back
to Cuba. They had one ship-carpenter left, and sev-
eral other mechanics. Swords, stirrups, chains, cut¬
lasses, and worn out fire-arms, were wrought into
spikes. Ropes were made from grass. The Indians
proved friendly, furnishing them with food, and aid¬
ing them in their labors.
The hostile chief of whom we have before spok¬
en, Quigualtanqui, on the eastern bank of the river,
began to renew his efforts to form a hostile league
against the Spaniards. He was continually sending
spies into the camp. Moscoso was a merciless man.
One day thirty Indians came into the town as spies,
but under pretence of bringing presents of food, and
messages of kindness from their Cacique. Moscoso
DEATH OF DE SOTO.
347
thought he had ample evidence of their treachery.
Cruelly he ordered the right hand of every one of
I
these chiefs to be chopped off with a hatchet, and
thus mutilated, sent them back to the Cacique as a
warning to others.
I
Moscoso, conscious of the peril of his situation,
V
made the utmost haste to complete his fleet. It con¬
sisted of seven large barques, open save at the bows
and stern. The bulwarks were mainly composed of
hides. Each barque had seven oars on a side.
This frail squadron was soon afloat, and the Governor
and his diminished bands embarked.
It was on the evening of the second of July, just
as the sun was setting, when they commenced their
descent of the majestic Mississippi, leading they
knew not where. They had succeeded in fabri¬
cating sails of matting woven from grass. With
4
such sails and oars, they set out to voyage over un¬
explored seas, without a chart, and without a com¬
pass. The current of the river was swift and their
descent rapid. They occasionally landed to seize
provisions wherever they were to be found, and to
take signal vengeance on any who opposed them.
It seems that the Indians, during the winter, had
been collecting a fleet, manned with warriors, to cut
off the retreat of the Spaniards'. This fleet consist¬
ed of a large number of canoes, sufficiently capacious
348 FERDINAND DE SOTO.
to hold from thirty to seventy warriors, in addition
to from thirteen to twenty-four men with paddles.
They could move with great rapidity.
Two days after embarking, the Spaniards met
this formidable fleet. The natives attacked them
with great ferocity, circling around the cumbrous brig*
antines, discharging upon them showers of arrows,
and withdrawing at their pleasure. This assault,
which was continued almost without intermission
for seven days and nights, was attended by hideous
yells and war-songs. Though the Spaniards were
protected by their bulwarks and their shields, nearly
every one received some wound. All the horses but
eight were killed.
On the sixteenth day of the voyage four small
I
boats, containing in all fifty-five men, which had
pushed out a little distance from the brigantines,
were cut off by the natives, and all.but seven perish¬
ed. The natives now retired from pursuing .their
4
* *
foes, and with exultant yells of triumph turned their
bows up the river and soon disappeared from sight.
On the twentieth day they reached the Gulf.
Here they anchored their fleet to a low marshy island,
a mere sand bank, surrounded with a vast mass of
floating timber. Again a council was held to decide
what course was to be pursued. They had no nauti¬
cal instruments, and they knew not in what direction
DEATH OF DE SOTO.
349
to seek for Cuba. It was at length decided that as
their brigantines could not stand any rough usage of
*
a stormy sea, their only safety consisted in creeping
cautiously along the shore towards the west in search
4
of their companions in Mexico. They could thus run
into creeks and bays in case of storms, and could oc-'
casionally land for supplies.
It was three o’clock in the afternoon when they
again made sail. There was much division of coun¬
sel among them; much diversity of opinion as to the
best course to be pursued ; and the authority of
Moscoso was but little regarded. They had many
adventures for fifty-three days, as they coasted slowly
%
along to the westward. Then a violent gale arose, a
norther, which blew with unabated fury for twenty-
six hours. In this gale the little fleet became sepa-
W
rated. The brigantines contained about fifty men
each. Five of them succeeded in running into a lit¬
tle bay for shelter. Two were left far behind, and
finding it impossible to overtake their companions, as
the wind was directly ahead, and as there was danger
of their foundering during the night, though with
quarrels among themselves, they ran their two ves¬
sels upon a sand beach and escaped to the shore.
'Moscoso, with the five brigantines, had entered
the river Panuco, now called Tampico. Here he
found, to his great joy, that his countrymen had
I
350 FERDINAND DE SOTO.
quite a flourishing colony, and that they had reared
quite a large town, called Panuco, at a few miles
up the stream. They kissed the very ground for
joy, and abandoning their storm-shattered brigan¬
tines, commenced a tumultuous march towards the
town. They were received with great hospitality.
The Mayor took Moscoso into his own house, and
the rest of the party were comfortably provided for.
It is worthy of note that one of their first acts
was to repair to the church to thank God for their
signal deliverance from so many perils. They were
soon joined by their shipwrecked comrades. They
numbered only three hundred, and they resembled
wild beasts rather than men, with uncut and un¬
combed hair and beard, haggard with fatigue, black¬
ened from exposure, and clad only in the skins of
bears, deer, buffaloes, and other animals. Here
their military organization ended.
For twenty-five days they remained at Panuco;
a riotous band of disappointed and reckless men,
frequently engaging in sanguinary broils. Gradu¬
ally they dispersed. Many of the common soldiers
found their way to the city of Mexico, where they
enlisted in the Mexican and Peruvian armies. Most
of the leaders found their way back to Spain, broken
f
in health and spirits.
Many months elapsed ere Isabella heard of the
4
DEATH OF DE SOTO.
35 1
death of her husband, and of the utter ruin of the
magnificent enterprise in which he had engaged.
It was to her an overwhelming blow. Her heart
was broken; she never smiled again, and soon fol¬
lowed her husband to the grave. Sad, indeed, were
the earthly lives of Ferdinand De Soto and Isabella
I
De Bobadilla. We hope their redeemed spirits have
met in that better land where the weary are at rest.
THE END.
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